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Portland Trail Blazers are not interested in Zach LaVine in Damian Lillard trade talks
The Damian Lillard trade saga has moved past the two-month mark with no end in sight. A report recently pointed to the Chicago Bulls joining the action, with All-Star Zach LaVine being the centerpiece. However, another report from a Bulls insider expressed that the Portland Trail Blazers have no interest in acquiring the high-scoring guard as it does not align with the timeline they have in mind for their younger players.
Bulls putting their name in the basket
Lillard requested to be traded away from the Blazers in July, saying he wanted to join the Miami Heat. Although there have been talks, there has been no progress in the situation. The Bulls are now said to be interested in the four-time All-Star, with LaVine being offered as a centerpiece for any possible deal.
'PHLY_Sports' Kyle Neubeck upped the ante late Wednesday by saying on his outlet's podcast that the Bulls "might be trying to move LaVine as part of a multi-team deal just to see if they can get into the Lillard sweepstakes," wrote NBC Sports' Bulls insider K.C. Johnson when asked about Chicago's involvement in the Lillard trade saga.
No go
However, Johnson quickly pivoted, saying the Blazers weren't interested, as their focus is on developing their young core composed of 24-year-old Anfernee Simons, the high-flying Shaedon Sharpe, and rookie guard Scoot Henderson.
"Multiple league sources indicated throughout the offseason that the Trail Blazers showed little interest in acquiring LaVine directly, mostly because he doesn't match their rebuilding path and commitment to a young backcourt of Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons," Johnson explained.
A core of Lillard, DeRozan, and Vucevic would have been an awesome sight to see in the Eastern Conference. Although Chicago is not Miami or Boston, the trio certainly would have been enough to compete with those teams. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, as the Blazers weren't ready to commit to such a move that could potentially jeopardize the future of their young core.
