Chicago Bulls insider says trading Zach LaVine in the offseason would be harder than ever

It was no secret the Chicago Bulls and Zach LaVine wanted to part ways this season. When LaVine’s representatives mentioned their openness to playing somewhere else, the Bulls exhausted all avenues to try and find a trade partner for the high-flying guard. However, the task proved harder than expected, with NBA teams hesitant to take on the All-Star guards' massive contracts and one-way skills.

The Bulls’ desire to move their high-priced ace ended before the trade deadline as LaVine underwent a season-ending foot surgery. However, the question remains: Would the Bulls continue to try to trade LaVine this offseason?

Difficult challenge awaits

While LaVine tried to play the role of a good soldier upon his return to the Bulls’ roster, it was clear that the Bulls’ new style of play wasn’t suited to his strengths—isolation scoring and mid-range jumpers. In those seven games, the former UCLA star averaged only 15.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists.

The high-flyer looked tentative at times, and the numbers showed, as there were three games wherein he attempted less than 10 shots—an eye-raising figure considering he’s averaged over 18 attempts per game in his career in Chicago.

Could the Bulls still trade LaVine once he’s recovered from foot surgery? Chicago still can, but according to The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry, the task will be more difficult than ever.

“If no one wanted to trade for LaVine before, what team in its right mind would give up assets to get him now coming off foot surgery?” Mayberry wrote in a mailbag session.

Injury Update: Zach LaVine will undergo surgery on right foot as the next step in his recovery process.

LaVine will be out 4-6 months.

➡️ https://t.co/sINnQhiMj4 pic.twitter.com/wNpsZxkm0j
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 3, 2024

Stuck in mediocrity

The Bulls are stuck between a rock and a hard place. LaVine is still under contract for three more seasons, and he’ll be paid over $130 million. On one hand, he’s their best player and a valuable scorer in today’s NBA. But on the other hand, his contract is a major hindrance for any potential trade partners.

“The Bulls are stuck. Unless they take pennies on the dollar and basically give him away, Chicago will be unable to trade LaVine until he demonstrates he’s healed and borderline dominant again. That day is a long ways away. Even then, as we just witnessed, the Bulls could find it difficult to trade LaVine,” Mayberry continued.

Some of the Zach Lavine discourse on this app is crazy. You can say what you want about his defense but his offense is as great as we’ve seen pic.twitter.com/8AYR5q1vy5
— Mikey Talks Pistons 🏀 (@mikeypistons) February 17, 2024

Difficult challenge awaits

Stuck in mediocrity

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