NEWSLETTER
The moment Zach LaVine opted for season-ending foot surgery was the moment the trade market fell silent. What little action there was surrounding the two-time All-Star would be put on silent until at least the offseason. And, well, here we are.
All signs point toward the Chicago Bulls’ front office continuing their pursuit of a trade partner. Likewise, nothing has seemingly changed about LaVine’s willingness to play elsewhere. Of course, that doesn’t mean Arturas Karnisovas will be able to find a suitor in the coming months, but the full expectation is that he’ll put in the effort.
Indeed, we have reason to believe that LaVine’s trade market could receive some new life. The postseason can change a lot of minds, especially for those bounced too early. A talented three-level scorer with explosive athleticism may now be that much more attractive for organizations desperate to stay relevant or satisfy their superstar. You know, like the Philadelphia 76ers!
Zach LaVine and Philly?
Philadelphia has long made sense as a possible trade destination for Zach LaVine. While he may not possess the defensive upside the team likely wants, he does provide efficient long-range shooting and valuable off-ball skills. Seeing how he could fit next to Joel Embiid isn’t difficult (albeit, his fit with Tyrese Maxey is a bigger question), and we all know they have plenty of money to spend.
This is why his name popping up in Jake Fischer’s latest intel article isn’t the most shocking. The Yahoo Sports insider name-dropped LaVine as a potential backup option for the 76ers this summer. Philly has been connected heavily to Paul George, and Fischer also speculated that OG Anunoby could be on the organization’s radar.
“Striking out on a big-time wing would also leave the door open for Philadelphia to consider taking back a player such as Zach LaVine, sources said, in the event Chicago or another team is willing to attach draft capital to move off salary,” Fischer wrote.
To be sure, it’s worth noting that this snippet came at the very end of Fischer’s piece. And I encourage you to read the full thing here. Why is that important? Well, it truly does make it feel like looking at LaVine would be a last resort for the 76ers.
We also can’t ignore the fact Fischer explicitly stated that Philly would consider adding LaVine “in the event Chicago or another team is willing to attach draft capital.” While this could be a leverage play, it could just as much represent where the market stands on LaVine. Perhaps more teams out there are interested, but they sure will attempt to make Chicago believe they are doing them a favor by taking his salary.
If the Bulls are forced to give up something of value to get off LaVine, they may very well be better off waiting for this upcoming trade deadline. If we’re being honest, it’s hard to imagine LaVine’s value can drop much lower, so as long as he can play decent basketball to begin the season, finding the right deal could become a lot easier.
At the same time, if the Bulls are desperate to move him, doing business with Philly and taking back a “meh” return may not be the worst idea. The 76ers are expected to have upwards of $55.0 million in cap space. With that being the case, they could absorb LaVine’s salary into their cap space, which would limit the amount of money the Chicago Bulls have to take back in a deal. That could be considered a win for a front office that needs some flexibility.
Regardless, the biggest takeaway here is that doors can always open. Would I bet money on Zach LaVine being a member of the 76ers next season? No. But it doesn’t take much for an offseason to not go the way a franchise wants it to, especially one trying to stay alive in the race for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. LaVine may start to look real nice to Joel Embiid and Co. come July.
