Jazz Trading for Bulls G Zach LaVine Would Give ‘Improved Asset Base'

One of the many names to pop up in consistent trade rumors around the NBA over the past few months has been Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine. While the Bulls currently sit in the depths of NBA purgatory, keeping talent like LaVine rotting away on a non-competitive roster creates the perfect opportunity for an opposing team to make a deal to acquire him.

Zach LaVine is coming off his 2022-23 campaign with averages of 24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 48.5/37.5/84.8 splits. He’s a consistently effective scorer who's averaged over 20 points a night for five straight seasons. His presence on the defensive end has always been a factor to remain in question, but his electric dunks and shot-making ability have kept him as a dangerous weapon in any offense.

Zach LaVine will be a 87 overall in NBA2K24 🎮

Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/2BJGjy4GKf
— BullsMuse (@BullsMuse_) August 12, 2023

For the Utah Jazz, this presents an interesting proposal of a trade for the intriguing 2x All-Star. The team has more than enough assets to act on a deal for LaVine if they really wanted, but his fit within the current timeline and roster creates a considerable barrier for this to be a definitive move to make.

David Locke on Locked On Jazz detailed how a potential move for the Bulls guard could actually end up benefitting Utah later on in their timeline:

“LaVine’s 3-year [contract], to me, is a really good trade piece for the future. So, like, another player were to become available, and you were trading Zach LaVine for that higher-end player, along with a bunch of draft compensation we’ve acquired; that, to me, is a better trade for another team than the gaggle of players you might put in a package together. So, I actually think you improve your asset base if you go get Zach LaVine."

There are some glaring holes when it comes to Zach LaVine’s impact on the court, but his value as an All-Star caliber player still has a high standing in the league. Even if LaVine might not be a long-term option in Utah’s backcourt, utilizing him as a centerpiece in a trade moving forward could end as the wisest move for the Jazz to make for the future.

With a core consisting of Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler going into next season, expectations would be reasonably set as a playoff competitive team in the West. A top-six seed could be hard to come by in such a tight conference, but the Jazz would form a very talented and competitive group to move forward with.

Would this be the move that puts the Jazz as a championship-level team? No, but it does move the needle to create that desired team in the right direction.

A persistently patient approach through this summer puts a move like this into the 'unlikely’ category for the Jazz front office, but things could always change. With an aggressive GM like Danny Ainge in charge, Utah will not be sitting on their hands if a deal at the right price comes along.

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