NEWSLETTER
The Zach LaVine trade talk is running in place. While a blizzard of rumors and reports swept through Chicago this offseason, seemingly very little has actually changed behind the scenes. LaVine even downplayed the ongoing gossip at Media Day, stating that he signed on to be with the organization for the long-haul. He also made an effort to mention that his camp isn’t behind any of the buzz.
Indeed, he reiterated that sentiment in a recent interview with ESPN’s Jamal Collier. While the two-time All-Star clarified that the trade rumors are never wanted, he also emphasized that it’s just part of the business of basketball.
“My camp isn’t putting them out,” LaVine told Collier. “I committed to the Bulls when I signed my five-year deal. So until I’m not, I’m committed to the Bulls. I’ve always brought professionalism and consistent play, and that’s what I’ll continue to do.
“I love Chicago; I’ve always wanted to be in a place that wanted me, and Chicago showed me that. But obviously trade rumors are part of the business. Are they wanted? No. But I’m a grown man, I’ve been traded before. I know how to deal with them. You have to take it that way; it’s a business, so I don’t get too upset.”
Collier shared these comments from Zach LaVine after – once again – providing us with a report that teams have called Chicago about the 28-year-old. According to him, however, “no team has been willing to meet Chicago’s reportedly large asking price.”
For what it’s worth, we learned a bit more about what the Chicago Bulls could be asking for in a LaVine trade earlier this offseason. NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson was the first to specify that the front office would want “a good young player, multiple first-round picks and salary filler.” The alternative presented was “one first-round pick and an established, high-end player.” You can read our initial comments on that report from back in June here.
Assuming this – specifically the former – is the asking price that rival teams refuse to meet, then so be it. As I’ve stated before, a young player and first-round draft capital is basically the going price for an All-Star-level talent. And, folks, that’s what Zach LaVine is! The Bulls shouldn’t budge from their seat, especially with LaVine under contract for the foreseeable future and seemingly not in any sort of rush to play anywhere else.
What we should mention, however, is that Collier’s report does continue to imply that the Bulls are at least theoretically willing to move LaVine. A report earlier this offseason stated for the first time that the Bulls were the ones “contacting teams” about a potential trade. Now, we hear that no team is willing to meet Chicago’s “large asking price,” which means the Bulls are at least entertaining those conversations enough to present opposing teams with an acceptable deal (even if it seems like an overpay). In other words, we’re not hearing that the Bulls aren’t returning calls or hanging up the phone. And, well, that is pretty noteworthy as we look toward a pivotal 2023-24 season.
At the end of the day, this just serves as another reminder that the Zach LaVine trade talk likely isn’t going to stop any time soon. Especially if the Bulls struggle to put the pieces back together this year, we could be in for one heck of a dramatic trade deadline.
