2 NBA Emerge As Legit Frontrunners For Bulls’ Zach LaVine

The Chicago Bulls seem intent on unloading Zach LaVine at some point in the coming weeks.

LaVine, 29, is entering the third year of a five-year, $215.2 million deal he signed with the Bulls in 2022. While his ceiling is high as a player, he has been bogged down by injuries for much of his career.

Because of that Chicago has made it a priority to move in a new direction.

According to K.C. Johnson at NBC Sports Chicago, the Bulls have reached out to 15 separate teams to gauge interest in LaVine.

“‘Everything is on the table,’ [Arturas] Karnišovas said in April… It’s why Zach LaVine’s future isn’t the only trade scenario that has been discussed, even if sources said Karnišovas has floated as many as 15 proposals centered on the two-time All-Star guard to various teams including the Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers,” he reported.

LaVine is coming off a campaign where he averaged 19.5 points and 3.9 assists per game – his lowest stats since 2017. There is an argument to be made that his value has never been worse.

At the moment two teams appear to be legit frontrunners for his services. The first is the Sacramento Kings.

According to Matt Moore of Action Network, Sacramento has kicked the tires on a potential deal for LaVine.

“They’re known to have had calls with Chicago involving Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso,” he reported.

“The Kings would love to keep Malik Monk and will offer him the max they can at four years, $78 million, but they realistically won’t be able to match offers from teams like Detroit, Charlotte and Orlando, who are also known to have interest. That, in part, is what makes LaVine more attractive to them at a discounted price after his trade market value hit rock bottom at the deadline.”

While Monk plans to stay with Sacramento on a four-year, $78 million contract, that doesn’t mean LaVine is no longer an option for them.

If not the Kings, the Los Angeles Lakers are a team to watch as well. They are one of four teams that LaVine has expressed an interest in being dealt to.

That said, two teams have actively been trying to steal LaVine from the Lakers – so it is up in the air how successful Rob Pelinka and Co. will be in getting him.

The next few weeks promise to be interesting. LaVine may end up in one of several notable situations. The one place he is all but guaranteed to not be when the 2024-25 NBA season tips off, though? Chicago.

Anthony Amador

A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school Games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.