If all went according to plan, the Chicago Bulls would look a lot different by the end of the 2024-25 regular season. Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine would sport new uniforms by mid-February, and the front office would be angling to continue their youth movement by adding another high-upside lottery pick.
Unfortunately, things don’t often go as planned in the NBA.
Despite strong statistical starts for both the veterans, the Bulls have had little luck building a market for Vucevic and LaVine. Whether it be reports of minimal interest or the organization asking for too much in return, the early signs have suggested that moving both by the deadline could be tricky. This is particularly true in the case of Zach LaVine, who has been No. 1 on the Bulls’ trade list since last season.
In a recent article for ESPN, Bobby Marks shared a quote from a team source regarding a potential LaVine trade. This person seemingly suggested that, while LaVine likely deserves a more robust market, he’s not sure the current NBA ecosystem will allow for it.
“If we were operating under the 2017 CBA and there were no apron rules, I could make a case to my owner on LaVine”, one team told ESPN’s Bobby Marks. “But his salary boxes you into a corner on how we can add to the roster.”
LaVine is owed nearly $90.0 million over the next two seasons combined. Taking over that kind of payday for a non-superstar in today’s era of harsh CBA restrictions is a hard sell. Likewise, accumulating the assets needed to acquire his $43.0 million mid-season this season isn’t easy! Not every contender has the salaries for an easy match, especially those who are already stuck in the second apron and are not allowed to combine their players’ salaries in a deal.
Indeed, if someone is going to convince themselves to add the highly-priced shooting guard, they may have an easier time doing it in the offseason. The team would have more flexibility to figure out how the contract fits on their books, as well as one less season of checks to worry about moving forward. This is why it’s starting to feel like LaVine could finish his 8th full season as a Chicago Bull.
Even a source close to home is now reporting that finding a deal for LaVine could be more wishful thinking than anything else.
“If the Bulls can unload Ball and Vucevic, there’s no reason why they couldn’t stay near the bottom. Moving LaVine this season remains more pipe dream than reality, according to a source, unless there’s a major injury or a seismic shift in the market,” wrote Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
The NBA trade market is an ever-changing organism. We know to never say never in this league. But we can only follow the breadcrumbs we have been given, and we seem to be headed in a direction with no clear endpoint.
Zach LaVine and Billy Donovan via Mike Watters-Imagn ImagesWhat If Zach LaVine Sticks Around?
If one thing is for sure, the Chicago Bulls aren’t going to stop picking up the phone. Recent rumors have not given us any reason to believe they prefer to keep Zach LaVine or his veteran teammates. Nonetheless, this remains a very real possibility.
One has to wonder to what extent the Bulls and/or LaVine’s camp have considered the possibility. Have they both banked on a deal getting done this season? Are they ok moving forward without one? The relationship between the two sides has undoubtedly felt repaired. LaVine has been a true professional from the moment he showed up at training camp, and we’ve also seen him play some of the most impactful winning basketball of his career. However, has a motivating factor been a looming trade?
It is a little easier to put your best foot forward when you know there is a reward coming. I’m not necessarily saying I expect LaVine to rock the boat if he isn’t moved by the trade deadline. But could the sunshine and rainbows begin to fade? LaVine likely wants to be in a winning environment sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, the Bulls want to continue this rebuild/retool/whatever they call it in earnest. They can’t do that with LaVine winning them games and taking up so much room on their cap sheet.
Right now, we’re set up for a rather amicable goodbye, one that appears to have both parties working toward the same goal. If they can’t accomplish that goal, though, it opens the door for frustration and desperation. LaVine and Klutch could begin to rethink their calm approach. The Bulls could begin to rethink attaching future assets in a trade. Things could go even further south.
I guess all we can do is see if they can stay on the same page no matter what happens. The Bulls don’t want to trade Zach LaVine for nothing, and Zach LaVine doesn’t want to end up in a bad environment. If his market remains incredibly underwhelming, they may be ok waiting for more doors to open in the offseason. However, the longer these sagas tend to go on, the messier they become. Let’s hope the Bulls can continue to defy those odds.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Zach LaVine Might Not Be Going Anywhere )
Also on site :
- British Airways spends £17billion on jets after Trump teased Boeing would get a bumper order under US-UK trade deal
- What Robert Saleh won’t miss about being Jets head coach
- New Number One Contender Named For WWE Women’s Championship On SmackDown