Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls are open to parting ways.
However, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, LaVine doesn’t have a trade market right now.
“There is not a market for Zach LaVine right now in the NBA,” Wojnarowski said. “And that’s not because Chicago has not tried to find it and aren’t currently trying to find it. It’s a combination of a few reasons. LaVine’s contract at four more years at around a $45, $46 million a year average, but his productivity. And I think this is a player right now who certainly he’s out now with a foot injury, he’s been in and out of the lineup. And I think the question for teams is how much does Zach LaVine impact winning, especially at that salary. And with a new salary cap where you’re asking yourself, are we trading for him to be our best player? No. Our second-best player? No. So if he’s our third-best player, do we want to pay that kind of money?
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls Updates
“And for the Bulls, they want to get some value in a trade. And I think right now, for both LaVine and the Bulls to get a trade, he needs to start playing well. He needs to start playing well and I think impacting winning. And I think that’s certainly what teams are gonna wanna see as they look at the value of trying to do a trade for him.”
LaVine is averaging 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists on the season while shooting 44.3% from the field, 33.6% from beyond the arc and 86.6% from the free-throw line. The Bulls are only 5-13 with LaVine in the lineup.
LaVine, who is represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, would like to get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs or Sacramento Kings, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
The Bulls have made the playoffs just once in the LaVine era, which began in 2017-18. They lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2022 playoffs in five games.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls Updates
LaVine signed a five-year, $215 million contract with the Bulls in July 2022. He’s making $40 million this season.
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