Raptors Among Favorites To Land Zach LaVine, Odds Say
A Zach LaVine trade to the Toronto Raptors isn’t exactly likely, but oddsmakers seem to think it’s possible as rumors continue to circulate around the Chicago Bulls All-Star guard.
Toronto is considered the fourth most-likely landing spot for LaVine should he be traded this season, per Bodog. The Raptors sit at +650, implying a 13% chance that LaVine ends up in Toronto should he be dealt.
The Los Angeles Lakers are considered the favorites with an implied probability of 40% to land LaVine if he’s traded. The Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers each have a 25% implied probability.
It’s unlikely a deal happens this month, but once Dec. 15 hits and players who signed contracts this past summer become trade eligible, expect talks to pick up more seriously.
Toronto is said to be among the teams expected to be interested in LaVine, per Shams Charania. In theory, the Raptors could negotiate a deal involving Gary Trent Jr., Chris Boucher, and Thad Young without surpassing the luxury tax threshold.
As for the rest of the Bulls, oddsmakers say there’s a 10% probability that DeMar DeRozan returns to Toronto should he be dealt by the Bulls ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline. Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles are the favorites to land him should he be dealt. It seems highly unlikely he does return to Toronto in a deal.
The Raptors have as many as two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps they can move in a deal. They also have three second-round picks that can be dealt.
