The Chicago Bulls are 4-1 since Zach LaVine returned to the lineup following a 16-game absence due to a foot injury. However, according to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, nothing has changed for the Bulls and LaVine in terms of trade talks.
“If they could trade Zach LaVine in the next five minutes, they would trade him and Zach would happily go to the airport,” Windhorst said on NBA Today. “I don’t think anything has changed there. I think they absolutely want to trade him.”
According to NBA insider Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times, the Bulls will have to “add stuff” in a LaVine trade to get off his contract. The trade market for LaVine around the NBA is “rough.”
“Zach LaVine, long rumored to be on the trade market, isn’t usually a name that comes up when talking to people about the Lakers’ interest because of his contract and injury history,” Woike wrote. “The trade market for him around the league, sources say, is so rough that the thought is Chicago should have to add stuff in a LaVine trade to get off the contract.”
LaVine has a huge contract. He signed a five-year, $215 million contract with the Bulls in July 2022 during unrestricted free agency. LaVine is making $40 million this season. He is slated to make $43 million next season and $45 million in 2025-26. The two-time All-Star has a player option worth $48 million for the 2026-27 campaign.
LaVine is averaging 20.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks this season while shooting 45.1% from the floor, 34.4% from beyond the arc and 85.3% from the free-throw line. The UCLA product has a plus-minus of -70.
Numerous sources told NBA Analysis Network that LaVine wants to get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group represents LaVine, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. However, the Lakers are more interested in acquiring Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, who is represented by Paul as well.
LaVine has career averages of 20.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Bulls. He was the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
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