The Chicago Bulls haven’t been shy about making it known leaguewide that their two-time All-Star guard is up for grabs. The most intense trade rumors swirled last year in February when a trade package from the Detroit Pistons almost clinched a swap until LaVine’s camp announced a season-ending surgery. Chicago remained firm over the summer that they were willing to part ways with him, but the phones remained mute due to his injury history and expensive contract. Despite not being an All-Star each of the last two seasons and not on pace to get the nod again this season, having zero All-NBA nods in his career, and having one playoff victory to his name, LaVine’s contract ranks in the top-15 in the league. ESPN NBA Insider Brian Windhorst, on yesterday’s “Brian Windworst & The Hoop Collective,” mentioned the Bulls’ guard, his trade value, and who has been calling in regards to a potential trade.
LaVine Is On The Trade Block
Several of the NBA’s heaviest-hitting analysts and reporters have confirmed that Zach LaVine is on the trade block, and Windhorst joined that list during his podcast. He confirmed that he’s been on the trade block for “a year now, at least.” This would mean Chicago is actively trying to deal away both of their former All-Star leaders, as a handful of reports have also named Nikola Vucevic an active trade asset. Windhorst followed up this news with some damning words regarding the status of a potential LaVine deal and the lack of traffic surrounding the offensive star.
"[Zach LaVine]'s having an excellent year. We know he's been on the trade block for a year now, at least. Yet I hear nothing about LaVine on the trade market. And I don't think it's because the Bulls aren't interested in trading him."
– Brian Windhorst on the new Hoop Collective
— CHGO Bulls (@CHGO_Bulls) December 9, 2024
Trading away at least one of LaVine or Vucevic is a pivotal move to benefit Chicago’s future. Not only will it gain at least a few assets in the upcoming draft or via unproven young talent, but it would also result in more losses this year and retaining their protected top-ten pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. With the consistently improving play of nearly every roster piece under age 25, trading immediate mediocrity for the chance at future contention is a necessary philosophical decision. Coby White, Matas Buzelis, Ayo Dosunmu, Julian Philips, and Jalen Smith have shown the untapped potential to build a future around.
LaVine Is NOT Having An Excellent Year
If the lucrative contract and injury-filled track record weren’t enough to scare off potential trade partners for Chicago’s two-time All-Star guard, his play this season might drive them further away. Windhorst saying that he’s having “an excellent year” is quite the stretch, considering his usage is down, and he’s not close to All-Star or All-NBA consideration. To his credit, the shooting efficiencies have been stellar. He’s shooting his career-best from the field, over 50.6%, and from three-point land, over 43.2%, but the quantity is down. Trading quantity for quality isn’t a bad thing. However, when the assist and rebound numbers are stagnant, the defense is still weak, and the overall usage has declined, it equates to a less-impactful player given the top-end salary guaranteed over the next three campaigns.
Lavine is one of the best complementary stars in the league and he’s getting tagged as ball dominant and selfish
He’s averaging 22 points on near 64 TS with only 25% USG and averaging 1.37 PPP (57.6 percentile) on cuts and 1.11 PPP on spot ups (66th percentile) https://t.co/b41t79ZU1c
— Latif Love (@LatifNBA) December 9, 2024
There aren’t any All-Stars, or top-30 highest paid contracts, with such a low usage rate, and on the flip side, no role players, regardless of how highly efficient, that’s raking in $45 million average salary for the next handful of years. A 25% usage rate for a player paid the equivalent of an All-NBA player is a significant reason the Bulls are stuck in mediocrity.
The best hope for Chicago is that a contending team needing a new offensive punch will come crawling for LaVine’s elite scoring ability as the trade deadline heats up. Every season, at least one team takes a significant risk, makes a questionably risky decision, or makes a seemingly near-sighted trade to make the final push to contention. Will that franchise reach a deal with the Bulls?