Zach LaVine’s trade preference is good news for the Knicks

It's just a matter of time before the Chicago Bulls blow up their roster, as Zach LaVine is trending toward being the next big trade chip to fall. 

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Darnell Mayberry, the 4-8 Bulls are "open" to trading LaVine, whose 21.7 PPG scoring average leads the team. The sentiment goes both ways, as LaVine reportedly shares "increased openness" about a potential Windy City exit. 

Nevertheless, don't expect a move to the Big Apple for LaVine. 

On Thursday, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reported that LaVine is the latest in a laundry list of stars to oppose the possibility of joining the New York Knicks in recent years. 

"A source reiterated to The Post this week that LaVine’s camp would prefer not to go to Leon Rose’s squad," wrote Bondy. 

New York has long-awaited a superstar talent injection into its lineup, collecting an immense amount of young talent and draft capital over recent years to theoretically package in a trade for such a player. The team previously snooped around the Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard market and are widely considered the frontrunners to acquire Joel Embiid should he grow unhappy in Philadelphia — a pie-in-the-sky scenario.  

While LaVine doesn't necessarily categorize as a superstar, he'd help mend that itch as a two-time All-Star, giving the Knicks a formidable big three alongside Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle. Then again, acquiring LaVine would likely come at the expense of R.J. Barrett, a player who checks many of the same boxes as LaVine but at a cheaper price point.