UCLA Basketball: Bruin-Turned-All-Star Among Top NBA Trade Candidates This Year

UCLA Basketball has transitioned many All-Star level players to the NBA over the years. They have been one of the premier programs in college basketball, and it shows in the level of talent that reaches the league each season.

One of the better players that has come from UCLA in the last 10 years is guard Zach LaVine. He was taken in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves and is currently a member of the Chicago Bulls.

LaVine is a two-time NBA All-Star, but his teams haven't lived up to expectations throughout his career. The Bulls seem to be stuck in mediocrity, which is the worst place for a basketball team to be in.

It has been a long time since the Chicago Bulls have been relevant in the Eastern Conference as true NBA title contenders. Realistically, it was back in 2011 when they reached the Eastern Conference Finals with Derrick Rose leading the charge.

The team needs to be honest with themselves and start a rebuild. They can do so by trading away some of their higher-valued assets, including LaVine. He was listed as a top trade candidate to watch for this season.

"So, if Chicago remains in that bad-to-mediocre range a couple months into 2023-24, it'll have to start thinking about breaking up that core. In that circumstance, LaVine will almost certainly have the highest trade value."

Per Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report

Teams would love to get their hands on a player like LaVine. He can shoot, drive to the rim and is still very athletic as a player. The veteran is also under contract for a few more seasons, so control would be there for whatever team acquired his services.

"Over the last four seasons, LaVine has averaged 25.5 points and 4.5 assists with a 55.8 effective field-goal percentage.Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James are the only players in the league who match or exceed all three of those marks over the same span."

Per Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report

The former Bruin could find himself in a new home this season if Chicago struggles. It makes too much sense not to happen, and the entirety of Bruins Nation will be rooting for LaVine wherever he goes!