A potential Zach LaVine trade for the Bulls may not look the way some might expect, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. According to Cowley, if LaVine is traded, it might not be as part of a larger package involving other Chicago players. Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has insisted numerous times that a rebuild is not on the table and, according to Cowley, the Bulls would instead be looking to retool rather than embark on a second rebuild since Karnisovas took over in 2020.
That means Alex Caruso‘s place in Chicago appears secure for now. Cowley reports that a trade involving Caruso appears unlikely due to the fact that he’s on the books for just $19.35MM across the next two seasons and Chicago views him as “the culture.”
Reports over the summer indicated the Bulls’ asking price for LaVine was called “unreasonable” by other teams, so the return the team would demand for a package of LaVine and Caruso would almost assuredly be enormous, further reducing the likelihood of them being traded together, according to Cowley. It’s always possible the Bulls could change their tune regarding the asking price for either player as the season progresses.
In any case, the trade rumors revolving LaVine are likely just beginning. As we’ve noted and as Cowley points out, we’re less than a month into the season and teams don’t usually pursue blockbuster trades this early in the year. The trade season really begins to pick up in December and January, when recently signed free agents are eligible to be moved. This season’s James Harden trade was an exception, but that deal was only made after Harden had been on the block for months.
We have more from the Central Division:
- DeMar DeRozan missed the Bulls‘ Wednesday matchup against Orlando and is still away from the team as he deals with a personal matter, tweets NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson. Head coach Billy Donovan said DeRozan’s status for Chicago’s next game is to be determined.
- Former Pacers center Daniel Theis gave up about $2.2MM in his contract buyout with Indiana, tweets Spotrac’s Keith Smith. As Smith observes, that’s the same amount as the prorated minimum contract Theis will sign with the Clippers. The Pacers can now create up to $9.7MM in cap space this season.
- Bucks guard Damian Lillard offered a unique explanation for why he wants to win the NBA’s in-season tournament. “As a leader and somebody who cares about your teammates, especially your younger teammates, you got guys on two-way contracts [and] who are trying to earn a stay and that prize in the end could change their family’s lives,” Lillard said (Twitter link via HoopsHype). The players on the winning team will receive $500K apiece.
As a bulls fan, Ik we could more for AC than anyone else on the roster, but he’s one of the few guys who actually cares every night and a rare bright spot as far as my enjoyment watching the bulls. If they trade him they might be straight up unwatchable
Could get more *
AK and Donovan won’t do a rebuild cause it’s basically saying the team we put together failed. This retool is a last effort attempt to try turn things around ams save their careers.
Also reading between the lines, I find it interesting that they want to trade LaVine and not trade DeRozan. Now reports emerge that’s it’s more than likely they also want to keep Caruso….
My assumption is that they want Caruso to be the starting SG in Zachs spot and have DeRozan at the 3. Then ideally get back a 4 for LaVine.
The real obvious candidate they ideally want I think is Jerami Grant. He’s ridiculously overpaid (like Zach), on a newly rebuilding team, can defend, can shoot it and will give you a good 20 points per night. Only problem is Portland won’t want Zach.
My suggestion
Bulls: Jermai Grant and a protected 1st (Detroit)
Pistons: Zach LaVine
Blazers: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Marvin Bagley Jr and Patrick Williams
Bulls like up
White Caruso DeRozan Grant Vuce
Carter Ayo Craig … Drummond
Pistons need a go to scoring option and Zachs a real solid fit as they look to push the pace and play quick. Meanwhile Portland loads up on talented young forwards.
Great suggested trade.
I agree Grant would be a good target CHI could get. I’m still not buying the overpay for him tho. He just signed earlier than others on a very long contract. Others in this range with long contracts: Desmond Bane and Michal Porter Jr are paid more and Jordan Poole got the same. Over the next few years as new contracts are signed, his contract will look average.
There’s no way the pistons acquire another ball dominant player without moving one(Ivey) or two of theirs. They have Cade, and they have Ivey. Ivey is stuck on the bench behind ALEC BURKS. The pistons also traded up for Marcus Sasser (another guard that needs the ball to produce more). Let’s not forget Ausar Thompson, who is a generational talent. He will have the ball once he’s proven he can do everything else. Can’t imagine pistons would want lavine. They need a scoring big/wing like Jerami grant.
I disagree, I think Zachs a really solid fit.
Zach gives them a number 1 option on offence who can score in a bunch of different ways. That allows Cade to be less aggressive as a scorer and look to create more which should result in less turnovers and better shot selection. Ausar slots in at the 3 and already has shown he’s going to be a top tier defender which is great cause Zach needs defenders around him. At the 5 Jalen Duren is an absolute stud at both ends of the court. Which then leaves the 4 spot open.
Jaden Ivey so far isn’t meeting coach Dwayne Casey’s expectations on defence and rebounding so he should just slot in as that spark plug sixth man.
Obviously there’s still holes in this team and it’s not perfect but they are a rebuilding team that’s looking to get better. Zach wouldn’t cost them a bunch and I think would be a real solid fit.
Blockbuster trades early in the season a extremely rare… except for that time way back a few weeks ago.
I know a lot of people are talking ab LaVine AND Caruso in a trade, but they want a lot of assets for both.
And that’s 49M? Not the easiest match without depleting your roster’s depth. I think a DeRozan trade is far more likely, 28-29M, expiring, more sense fo urgency.
They can sit on LaVine and Caruso one more year. Honestly they need to figure out if Pat Will is a LT keep. DeRozan is 34, he isn’t going to be part of a championship team at this point if they aren’t one already.
They have some decent guards, no superstar or All Star level guy at this point, but all starting level. They have Vucevic locked up. SF, PF need that future guy.
If they cleared LaVine and Caruso, they could shorten the full blow rebuild by opening up a chunk of cap space. Be a player for OG. If they didn’t care about bad press, Miles Bridges, if he ever plays again.
News Flash. Williams is NOT a long term keep. In fact I’d trade him tomorrow just to be rid of the smell.