A short drive up I-94 may be in Zach LaVine’s future.
With the Feb. 6 trade deadline under two weeks away, the two-time All-Star continues to hear his name thrown around in trade rumors. He has most recently been mentioned as a possible piece in the potential multi-team blockbuster that would send Jimmy Butler to the Phoenix Suns. In this scenario, many have suggested that Bradley Beal could end up in Chicago alongside draft compensation, while LaVine ends up with a fourth and fifth team looking for a win-now contributor. Some believe the Bucks could be that team.
The Athletic was the first to state that Milwaukee could have some interest. They said in a lengthy intel piece on Jan. 21 that the Bucks were curious about adding another star player like Beal or LaVine to their duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Sam Vecenie went on to echo this sentiment in his NBA Trade Board, stating more definitively that the Bucks had an interest in exploring deals for LaVine among others.
Jump ahead to K.C. Johnson’s latest episode of The Fastbreak with the Chicago Sports Network, and we have a third assertion that the Bucks are drawn to the idea of trading for their division foe.
“The only way I see Zach LaVine move is if the Bulls somehow get in on a multi-team deal with this Jimmy Butler trade. That is the biggest domino out there for the entire league ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline … The Milwaukee Bucks, who do have interest in Zach LaVine, will be one of those teams trying to get in on the deal. And the Bulls will be another team trying to get in on that deal,” Johnson said.
You can watch the full episode of The Fastbreak here, where Johnson also touches on the trade markets for Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball.
© Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesZach LaVine to the Bucks Buzz Growing
While it doesn’t sound like Milwaukee’s interest has reached the level of Denver’s from earlier this season, it’s hard to ignore the fact that their name continues to come up. They appear to have a genuine interest in making some noise at this year’s deadline, and LaVine would undoubtedly be a flashy addition.
On the surface, his fit next to Damian Lillard surely feels a bit suspect. But we also know that LaVine is one of the most versatile scorers and off-ball threats in the game. While he does have the ability to carve up teams off the dribble, he is equally as talented at draining catch-and-shoot threes and throwing down lobs off the back-door cut.
I’m sure the idea for Milwaukee would be to take some of the offensive burden off Lillard and Antetokounmpo – the highest-scoring duo in the league – and improve the Khris Middleton minutes. For as great as Middleton has been for the organization in the past, he appears to be moving into a new phase of his career after recent injury trouble. LaVine would give Milwaukee a younger and more athletic playmaker who could stagger into the second unit and single-handedly carry the offense at times – aka something Middleton used to be able to do.
With that said, there would have to be a lot of work done for LaVine to end up in the Cream City. The Bucks still have to get under the second luxury tax apron before they can even think about making room for LaVine. As long as they are above that threshold, they can not combine salaries in a trade. This is why there has been a lot of chatter about moving someone like Pat Connaughton as a prerequisite to getting in on the potential Jimmy Butler mega-trade.
Even if they are able to get under the apron, they will then have to come up with the kind of assets that entice the Bulls. I’m sure Chicago would have an interest in their 2031 first-round pick, but this is also the organization’s last remaining first-round selection. Does Milwaukee really want to give it up right now? I suppose it’s possible the Bucks receive something of value while moving players like Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis to make room for LaVine. But what that is and whether or not Chicago would find it worthwhile is a complete unknown.
All we really do know right now is that making this work would be extremely complicated, which is why it does feel very unlikely that anything will get done. Nevertheless, I guess the mere fact that the Bucks have suddenly emerged as a suitor is a good reminder of how fast things can change in the NBA. You can just never say never.
For more Zach LaVine trade rumors, check out our post here.
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