L.A. Notes: Lakers, Trade Targets, Coffey, Hyland, Harden
Appearing on Hoops Tonight (Twitter video link), Jovan Buha of The Athletic confirmed that the Lakers have some interest in Bulls guard Zach LaVine, but said there are a couple other Chicago players who may be higher on Los Angeles’ wish list.
“I’ve actually heard that they’re more interested in DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso,” Buha said. “AC, he’s the one that got away. Lakers fans, it still bothers them. Inside the organization, it’s a very divisive topic. And then DeMar is someone that the Lakers have courted for several years. Both of those guys are on more manageable contracts (than LaVine).
“… I think both of those guys make more sense within what the Lakers need. There’s real interest in all three guys, but from what I’ve been told, DeMar and Alex are higher on their priority list.”
Here’s more on the NBA’s two L.A. teams:
- Within a comprehensive look at potential trade candidates around the NBA, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype says that rival executives believe D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura are among the Lakers players worth monitoring as the trade deadline nears. Scotto also cites one exec who suggests keeping an eye on the possibility of an Amir Coffey trade if the Clippers want to try to reduce their tax bill at all.
- No Clippers players have had their minutes more affected by James Harden‘s arrival than Bones Hyland. He averaged 26.2 minutes per night before Harden’s debut; since then, he has logged 12.9 MPG with six DNPs. As Janis Carr of The Orange County Register details, head coach Tyronn Lue has told Hyland his opportunities will come and the young guard is determined to remain patient. “Obviously everybody would be (bothered), especially for someone who wants to play like myself,” Hyland said. “But at the end of the day, sometimes the coaches see different things and maybe it’s not my time for a reason. … My whole life I try to stay positive, so I don’t let little things throw me off or change my attitude and stuff like that.”
- Speaking today to reporters, Lue said that he isn’t considering a starting lineup change but that he’s thinking about tweaking his rotation, adding that the Clippers need Harden to be “more aggressive” (Twitter thread via Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times).
Central Rumors: Pistons, Bulls, Hield, Cavaliers
Veteran forward Bojan Bogdanovic is expected to be the Pistons trade candidate who generates the most interest from rival teams this season, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, who hears from league sources that the club turned down two first-round picks from a contender in an offer for Bogdanovic last season.
It’s unclear what sort of protections those first-rounders might’ve had, but head coach Monty Williams “loves” Bogdanovic, per Scotto, so Detroit may set a high asking price for him again at the 2024 deadline.
Alec Burks, Monte Morris, and Killian Hayes are among the other Pistons players who figure to draw trade interest this winter, Scotto writes. League sources tell HoopsHype that Detroit had exploratory talks earlier this year with the Rockets about a trade that would have sent Burks to Houston in exchange for several second-round picks and Kevin Porter Jr. (who would’ve been waived).
Here are a few more of Scotto’s trade-related rumors and notes from around the Central:
- Bulls guard Alex Caruso would be a hot commodity on the trade market if he’s available, but rival executives who spoke to Scotto say Chicago still hasn’t shown a willingness to move him. Multiple execs believe the Bulls could get a first-round pick and a rotation player for Caruso, Scotto notes.
- How much might the Bulls get in exchange for Zach LaVine or DeMar DeRozan? “I think Zach LaVine can get a first back, maybe another first-round pick if it’s in this draft since it’s so weak,” one executive told Scotto. “DeMar DeRozan is worth a first in this draft in the 20s since it’s a weak draft, and he’s unrestricted at the end of the season. He can be a third scorer on a winning team.” Scotto says the Bulls are currently valuing players who could help them win immediately, rather than looking to tear down the roster and stockpile future draft picks.
- Although Buddy Hield was identified in September as a potential trade candidate, the Pacers have set a high asking price for the veteran sharpshooter and don’t appear particularly eager to move him, according to Scotto. Five NBA executives who spoke to HoopsHype suggested it would take a first-round pick and a rotation player to pry Hield away from Indiana. Rival teams are also monitoring veteran Pacers guard, T.J. McConnell, Scotto adds.
- Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert had their names pop up in trade speculation last season, but the Cavaliers want to keep both players through the 2024 deadline, barring a deal that moves the club closer to title contention, per Scotto.
Karnisovas, Donovan Appear To Be Safe In Chicago
Despite the Bulls‘ miserable start, president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and head coach Billy Donovan don’t seem to be in danger of getting fired, meaning any changes to turn the season around will have to focus on the roster, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
Karnisovas “has been given the green light to try to fix the current mess,” according to Johnson, who notes that ownership is typically slow to make changes to its front office. Karnisovas received an extension in the spring, which indicates the organization still has confidence in him.
Donovan is “liked and respected by both ownership and management,” Johnson adds, plus he still has multiple years remaining on his contract extension. Johnson points out that the Reinsdorfs don’t like to pay fired coaches, so Donovan isn’t likely to be dismissed, although changes may be made to his coaching staff.
Chicago dropped to 5-13 with Sunday’s loss at Brooklyn, which marked its fourth straight defeat and the seventh in its last eight games. The players understand that they’re underperforming, according to Johnson, and they know that a quick turnaround is the only way to prevent a roster shakeup.
“Rumors come with the territory,” Nikola Vucevic said. “If you’re playing well, everything is great. Everybody is talking positive about you. If you’re losing, you get criticized and rumors start. We have to deal with that. The only way to deal with it is for us to play better. That’s the only way for that to stop.”
Johnson suggests the Bulls’ core problem may be a flawed roster built around Vucevic, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. He points out that those three players have been on the court together for 370 minutes so far this season and they have a net rating of minus-13.9.
Reports earlier this month indicated that LaVine and the organization are both open to finding a deal to send him elsewhere. However, the team has placed a high asking price on the 28-year-old guard and his pricey salary and injury history are limiting interest around the league.
DeRozan, who has an expiring $28.6MM contract and reportedly hasn’t made much progress in extension talks, is also considered to be a trade candidate, along with Alex Caruso, a defensive standout with a team-friendly deal. Most of the free agents who signed contracts this summer will become eligible to be traded on December 15, so that’s when the Bulls might become active if their record hasn’t improved.
The team’s stars are hoping that won’t happen, Johnson adds, but they know the only way to keep the current roster together is to start winning.
“We all get along,” LaVine said. “Nobody wants to be 5-13 or lose multiple games in a row. It doesn’t feel good. It didn’t feel like we’d be at this point now. But that’s our reality. So we have to figure out how to get out of that hole. Try to get a win. That’s all we try to worry about.”
Bulls’ DeRozan “Beyond Frustrated” After Latest Loss
Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan received his second technical foul and was ejected with one second remaining in Friday’s loss at Toronto after having choice words with the Raptors’ bench.
As K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago writes, DeRozan was upset that Raptors forward Pascal Siakam attempted a three-pointer with three seconds remaining while Toronto was up 12 points and could have let the clock run out.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic told Bulls coach Billy Donovan after the game that they were focused on the point differential (for tiebreakers) during the in-season tournament contest, but Toronto had already been eliminated from the tournament when Orlando defeated Boston earlier in the day.
“I don’t care about no in-season tournament points, none of that. Just respect for the game,” DeRozan said. “If the roles was flip-flopped and I had the ball, hold it. It is what it is.”
“I mean, I knew that (they were eliminated),” DeRozan continued. “But I didn’t care about that either. Just everybody was yelling at him, ‘Score, score, score.’ Take the win. Get out of here. Like I said, if roles were reversed, needing in-season tournament points or not, just for the respect I have for my opponents, I hold the ball. Especially if there’s no shot clock. That’s just me.”
Of course, the bigger concern for the Bulls is the fact that they’re now 5-12, having lost three straight and six of their past seven games. According to Johnson, DeRozan was exasperated by the latest loss — he ripped a towel during a timeout and tore off his jersey after the ejection.
“I can’t fake it. I’m beyond frustrated. And I think it’s rightfully so as a competitor,” DeRozan said. “Everybody in this locker room is frustrated. It’s from a good place of being a competitor and wanting to figure it out that badly. Put a couple wins together. I really truly believe that can shift everything for us.
“… We gotta challenge ourselves. We can’t have those spiritual talks. We gotta challenge each other to leave it all the way out there. That’s a good thing to be challenged. Ask something of yourself more than you ever have at this point, myself included. That’s where we’re at.”
As we previously noted, things won’t get any easier for Chicago in the near future. The team has a really tough schedule over the next few weeks, so the Bulls will have to play much better to have a shot at turning their season around.
Bulls Notes: Slow Starts, LaVine, DeRozan, Caruso
Poor play in first quarters has been a consistent theme for the Bulls early on in 2023/24 and Wednesday’s loss in Oklahoma City was no different, writes Annie Costabile of The Chicago Sun-Times. The Bulls trailed the Thunder by 12 after the first period, scoring just 14 points on 4-of-23 shooting, and were down 18 at one point in the second frame.
Chicago managed to claw its way back into the game, but ultimately lost 116-102. The Bulls have now dropped five of six and currently hold a 5-11 record — certainly not what the front office was hoping when it decided to bring back most of the same group.
“We have not been consistent enough, quite honestly,” head coach Billy Donovan said.
The upcoming schedule won’t make things any easier. OKC was the first stop on a four-game road trip, with upcoming games in Toronto, Brooklyn and Boston. The Bulls will also play New Orleans, Milwaukee (twice), Denver, Miami (twice) and Philadelphia over the next 10 games, with four of those contests coming on the road — things could get very ugly in the near future unless they manage to right the ship.
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- Zach LaVine missed a game for the first time this season on Wednesday due to a right mid-foot sprain, Costible adds in the same story. LaVine, who was initially listed as probable, said he’s been dealing with the injury since Saturday’s victory over the Heat. “I cut my tape off at halftime because it was bugging me to play through it,” LaVine said. “Felt the same way the next game. Two [games] in a row, the same thing. You don’t want to get to that third [game].” The two-time All-Star is considered day-to-day.
- Several players on Chicago’s roster, including LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams, have been involved in trade rumors this fall. DeRozan, who previously said the rumors wouldn’t impact the locker room, is maintaining a level head amid the outside noise, Costible writes for The Sun-Times. “People have to make decisions however they see fit,” DeRozan said. “You may agree with them, you may not, but it’s part of being in this game.” DeRozan added that he hasn’t spoken to LaVine or Caruso about the speculation, choosing instead to focus on their work with the team.
- Caruso has been one of the few bright spots for Chicago. The 29-year-old is averaging career highs in several statistical categories, including points per game (10.0), field goal percentage (56.3%) and three-point percentage (47.9%), among others. Speaking to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, Caruso expressed optimism that Chicago is “really close” to being a good team, but has been plagued by inconsistency. Asked if the Bulls needed a “shakeup,” Caruso said the term was too general to really answer the question. “You play so many games,” he said as part of a larger quote. “And we’re not even 20 percent of the way through the season. I don’t know if shakeup is the right word for it. But definitely just some changes to our daily routine and changes to our daily habits. Like I said, consistency’s been something we’ve talked about. We have to change that from within.”
Latest On Bulls, Zach LaVine
The Bulls explored Zach LaVine trades over the offseason, but they had a very high asking price — the fact that they’re open to moving him isn’t new. However, LaVine had always remained loyal to Chicago, and he’s now open to a trade himself — something he didn’t deny when asked about it this week.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, LaVine doesn’t think the Bulls will be able to turn into a contender in the East after being mired in mediocrity ever since Lonzo Ball injured his knee in January 2022. Multiple sources tell Fischer that LaVine would prefer to play under a new head coach as well, which aligns with recent reporting that the two-time All-Star may not be the biggest fan of Billy Donovan.
As Fischer observes, while LaVine is one of the most talented scorers in the league, there are reasons why other players on the roster could have more trade value. He’s not known for his defense, he’s in the second season of a five-year, maximum-salary contract, and he’s had multiple knee injuries in the past.
Still, there are plenty of teams interested in LaVine, according to Fischer, who says rival executives view the shooting guard as more of a complementary piece rather than a player to build around. A potential deal isn’t expected to come together in the near future, which is typical considering many players around the league aren’t eligible to be traded but will be in a month or two.
Sources tell Fischer that LaVine would like to play for a “winning franchise” and he has interest in the Lakers, Heat and Sixers, who were all previously identified as potential suitors. But there are questions about whether any of those teams will ultimately pursue him for various reasons, particularly Philadelphia, which prefers to add more of a two-way player.
That list is far from comprehensive, however. They aren’t a winner at the moment, but LaVine is interested in joining the Spurs and No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama — as Fischer writes, LaVine played under Gregg Popovich on Team USA in the 2020 Olympics, winning a gold medal with the Hall of Fame coach.
Sources tell Fischer that LaVine has interest in several other teams as well, including the Kings. LaVine signed an offer sheet with Sacramento as a restricted free agent back in 2018, though that was under a different front office regime, Fischer notes.
While recent reports have indicated that the 4-9 Bulls are unlikely to entertain a rebuild even if they continue to struggle, Fischer hears ownership has recently changed its stance and would be open to dealing additional veterans beyond LaVine. That could include DeMar DeRozan, who is on an expiring $28.6MM contract, and All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso.
If Caruso does become available, his market would be robust, according to Fischer, who writes that the Bulls have asked for multiple first-round picks in exchange for the 29-year-old in the past. Due to Caruso’s favorable contract (he’s owed $19.4MM over the next two seasons) and the winning plays he makes on the court, Fischer believes Chicago could indeed get a couple first-rounders for him.
Central Notes: LaVine, Caruso, DeRozan, Theis, Lillard
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.
Bulls Rumors: LaVine, Donovan, DeRozan, Caruso, Lakers, More
The Bulls and Zach LaVine are reportedly increasingly open to exploring a trade involving the two-time All-Star. When asked about that report this week, LaVine was evasive and didn’t deny that he might be open to a change of scenery.
One report stated that LaVine was still upset about being benched by head coach Billy Donovan late in a game last year in which he shot 1-of-14 from the field. When Donovan was asked about the recent LaVine rumors, he said the team’s shooting guard has “always been coachable” and that he visited LaVine twice in Los Angeles in the offseason.
“He’s always been been very welcoming when I’ve come out there,” Donovan said, per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. “We’ve always had really good conversations. He’s always responsive to text messages and phone calls. So I haven’t seen anything where it’s like, ‘OK, this guy has really pushed himself all the way over here and he’s just totally disconnected from everybody. I have not seen that at all.
“I would think that if there’s anything he’d want to talk to a teammate about or a coach about or me about that he as a man would come up and do that. I do think our conversations have been very open and honest. And I think he has worked hard at the relationship just as I have.”
According to Johnson, Donovan also said he’s in constant contact with Bulls lead basketball executive Arturas Karnisovas, and suggested that nothing is imminent on the trade front. That makes sense, given that most free agents who signed new deals over the summer aren’t trade-eligible until December 15 or January 15.
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- The Lakers have been linked to LaVine multiple times over the years, including recently. Jovan Buha of The Athletic confirms that L.A. would be interested in the 28-year-old, but only if the price is right. Buha says LaVine’s pricey long-term contract — he’s in the second season of a five-year, maximum-salary deal — is the Lakers’ primary concern. The Lakers also don’t have interest in trading Austin Reaves in a potential LaVine deal, Buha reports.
- Of course, as Buha writes, there are several impediments to a trade possibly coming together. The Lakers can only offer one first-round pick and one pick swap, and the players they could use as salary-matching pieces aren’t eligible to be traded until the aforementioned Dec. and Jan. dates. LaVine also might not be an ideal fit for the Lakers’ roster.
- Chicago is now 4-8 after losing Wednesday’s game to Orlando. If the Bulls pivot to a rebuild in the next few months, multiple sources tell Buha that the Lakers would also be interested in DeMar DeRozan and/or Alex Caruso, and suggests those players would be a higher priority for Los Angeles. Kurt Helin of NBC Sports hears several teams monitoring the Bulls’ situation would be more interested in DeRozan ($28.6MM expiring contract) and Caruso ($19.4MM over the next two seasons) than LaVine.
- Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports that, despite the increasing trade chatter and the team’s poor overall play, the Bulls have had no interest in dealing Caruso in the past and there’s no sign that has changed (Twitter link).
- Danny Chau of The Ringer examines LaVine’s trade value and comes up with five trades that might make sense. In addition to the Lakers and Heat, who have been previously linked to LaVine, Chau comes up with hypothetical trades sending LaVine to the Warriors, Raptors and Pacers.
Central Notes: LaVine, DeRozan, Smith, Giannis
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Zach LaVine didn’t deny a report that he’s open to being traded. In fact, the Bulls wing only fueled more speculation in his comments to the media, as relayed by NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson.
When asked if he’d rather be elsewhere, LaVine was evasive.
“Right now is not that time to really talk about that. Play the Orlando Magic (Wednesday), try and get a win,” he said. “If something comes obviously out later on that will be the time I talk about it.”
Chicago is off to a slow start, having won just four of its first 11 games, and LaVine acknowledged that the losing has worn on him.
“I mean, I think it’s a combination of things where if you’re in a losing situation or a place you’re not winning games, people are frustrated,” he said. “From players to the front office, the coaches … we’re not happy because we’re not winning. It’s not a bad thing, but it’s just the nature of the business. More things come up when you’re not in a winning environment.”
LaVine, who signed a five-year extension in the summer of 2022, is represented by super-agent Rich Paul. LaVine indicated that Paul is in frequent contact with top Bulls executive Artūras Karnišovas.
“It’s not like we’re not in a good relationship or a good talking space. We understand the business of basketball, I do more than most people,” LaVine said. “People talk. I’ve been in trade talks for a long time, so I understand the situation. But once news is always broken it’s a big thing. It’s not like it will be the first or the last time it’s going to happen with my name. As of right now I’m excited to still put this jersey on and go out here and play, try and get this win.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- The Bulls’ other starting wing, DeMar DeRozan, won’t play against Orlando. He’s left the team to attend to a personal matter, Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report tweets. DeRozan is expected to return for Chicago’s next game on Friday, also against Orlando.
- The Pacers are awaiting the results of tests on Jalen Smith. He was taken to a Philadelphia-area hospital after suffering a head injury during their game against the Sixers on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press (link via ESPN). Smith collided with the Sixers’ Paul Reed as Reed elevated for a dunk during the second quarter.
- The Bucks have listed Giannis Antetokounmpo as out for their game on Wednesday against Toronto, Eric Nehm of The Athletic tweets. Antetokounmpo is dealing with a right calf ailment.
Zach LaVine Rumors: Lakers, Heat, Sixers, DeRozan, More
The Lakers, Heat, and Sixers are among the teams expected to have a “level of interest” in Bulls guard Zach LaVine, Shams Charania of The Athletic said during an appearance on The Rally (Twitter video link). Charania reported on Tuesday that the Bulls and LaVine have become increasingly open to exploring the possibility of a trade after Chicago got off to another slow start this season.
The Lakers’ big three experiment with Russell Westbrook alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis didn’t work well, with the team eventually moving off Westbrook in favor of reliable depth around its two superstars. It’s unclear how eager Los Angeles would be to sacrifice some of that depth to bring in another ball-dominant, offensive-minded guard like LaVine.
The Heat, meanwhile, were linked to Damian Lillard for much of the offseason and would perhaps view LaVine as an intriguing alternative, though he’s not the play-maker that Dame is. As for the Sixers, the belief is that they want to turn some of the assets they received for James Harden into another impact player, but the emergence of Tyrese Maxey has lessened the need for another guard. A report on Tuesday downplayed Philadelphia’s interest in LaVine.
In addition to monitoring LaVine, teams around the NBA are keeping an eye on DeMar DeRozan in case the Bulls decide to make him available as well, according to Charania.
“The sense around the league is whether it’s LaVine or DeRozan or both, there could be movement in Chicago sooner than later,” Charania said.
Here’s more on LaVine:
- The Lakers are among five destinations that Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype believes make sense for LaVine, but his other four suggestions are teams not mentioned by Charania: the Magic, Pistons, Hornets, and Mavericks. Dallas may not be an ideal fit for LaVine after adding Kyrie Irving earlier this year, but the Mavs have reportedly had interest in the Bulls guard in the past, Gozlan notes.
- In a mailbag for The Athletic, Kelly Iko makes the case that the Grizzlies would be an ideal fit for LaVine, contending that pairing him with Desmond Bane on the wing would help the team in the short term and open up space for Ja Morant to operate when he returns from his suspension.
- Steve Popper of Newsday doesn’t view the Knicks as a likely suitor for LaVine, suggesting that it wouldn’t make sense to give up RJ Barrett as part of a larger package for the Bulls guard, since LaVine is five years older, significantly more expensive, and has been more injury-prone.
- As good as LaVine has been as a scorer in recent years, his best hasn’t been good enough for the Bulls, according to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, who suggests that it might be in both sides’ best interest to go in a new direction.