NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bulls may not have any draft picks, but they could still get frisky on draft night.
Zach LaVine has landed in trade rumors, yet again, in recent weeks. The Chicago Bulls are at a crossroads after an underwhelming 40-42 season. The core built around LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic has yet to produce the kind of consistent and high-level play expected. And, when we consider all the assets given up to build that trio, the Bulls’ hands are tied when it comes to adding talent alongside those three.
With that being the case, a drastic shift could be in store. LaVine is easily the team’s most attractive asset and moving him could help the organization clean up their books and replenish their asset pool. Would it mean a complete rebuild, though? Well, it seems to depend on who you ask.
NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson recently shared what sources told him the Chicago Bulls want in return for LaVine. Here are the two return packages he heard about:
“One league source said the Bulls would be focused on getting a good young player, multiple first-round picks and salary filler if they decide to trade LaVine. Another said one first-round pick and an established, high-end player might be sufficiently intriguing,” Johnson wrote.
You can read Johnson’s full article that addresses more on the LaVine rumors here.
The first source presents the kind of return I think the Bulls should hunt. At the end of the day, LaVine is a two-time All-Star who is just 28 years old and coming off a stellar second half of the season. He has finished top-15 in total points the past four years and has arguably improved his game each season of his career.
In other words, this isn’t a Bradley Beal situation. His contract is far more palatable, and his recent play has simply been better. The idea of moving him isn’t to only open up future spending power. Instead, the main reason the Bulls would consider a trade is because of how much they could potentially get back in return. A young player and multiple first-rounders would completely change their long-term outlook.
The second source offered Johnson the kind of trade return that paints a more foggy vision. Who exactly serves as an example of an “established, high-end” player? This would suggest Chicago accepts someone back who can continue to help them win now. But who are you going to get in return that helps you accomplish that better than LaVine? Also, this implies they would try to continue to build around a soon-to-be 34-year-old in DeMar DeRozan and an exiting-his-prime Nikola Vucevic. That’s just poor, short-sided team-building.
I guess the good news is that adding some draft capital seemingly remains a priority regardless of the exact trade. But I do really struggle to see a world where the second outcome is worth settling for. The Bulls aren’t getting a player *currently* better than LaVine back in a trade. Even if they think they can find a cheaper option who can produce 80-90 percent of his stat line, what exactly is the point? Are we supposed to believe the money saved can be used in a way that makes this team more competitive? I just don’t see it.
More often than not, you’re not going to be able to successfully pull off two things at once. This is why the Wizards just moved Beal to begin a rebuild. It’s why the Trail Blazers are expected to either trade their No. 3 pick or Damian Lillard. Accepting a “high-end” player in return and one first-round pick simply isn’t giving Chicago maximum value, it’s continuing to set the organization up for mediocrity.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe that “high-end player” breaks out in Chicago and Arturas Karnisovas builds one of the most well-rounded rosters in the NBA with his newfound flexibility. Trust me, I’d love nothing more than for that to happen. But my gut (and, well, brain) tells me it would be the wrong approach.
More on that topic here:
