NEWSLETTER
The Zach LaVine market is bone dry.
Reports first surfaced on Sunday that said the Chicago Bulls have attempted to attach first-round draft capital to Zach LaVine, only for no teams to bite. Now, Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report has shared that the Golden State Warriors decided to waive Chris Paul rather than use him in a deal for the two-time All-Star.
“Chicago Bulls were trying to propose a Zach LaVine to the Golden State Wariors for a package centered around Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins. The Warriors, that was something they didn’t think was feasible. And so talks really didn’t get off the ground much. That was a talk prior to the Golden State Warriors making the decision to waive Chris Paul.”
Technically, it’s possible Haynes is expressing that the Bulls had two separate package ideas (one with CP3 and one with Andrew Wiggins), but it sure sounds like Chicago was willing to work something out where they take back both salaries.
The Warriors Didn’t Want Zach LaVine That Bad?
Look, I know these conversations can get complicated and there is no telling what the final trade proposal looked like. But this sure feels like a pretty attractive trade opportunity for the Warriors!
LaVine could slide right in next to Stephen Curry as a Klay Thompson replacement, providing more off-ball athleticism and a reliable 38.2 percent clip from downtown over his career. The money might be a lot to stomach, but when the heck has that ever been a concern for the Warriors before? Golden State has been rumored as willing to give Paul George the max for crying out loud! While there is no question he’s the better two-way asset, George is also five years older than LaVine and arguably even more injury-prone.
I guess I can understand a small desire to keep Wiggins, as he was a vital part of the team’s 2022 championship run. But they really refused to entertain the idea of turning his multi-year deal and CP3 into LaVine? Wiggins averaged just 13.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season. He also appeared in just 37 games the year before that.
We can all agree that LaVine isn’t the perfect player. His defense continues to be a net negative, and the injury history is a small red flag. Nevertheless, he’s consistently been one of the league’s elite and most efficient three-level scorers when healthy. Additionally, despite some of the bumps and bruises, he has remained one of the most explosive athletes in the league. The Warriors are a team desperately trying to stay relevant in the West and losing one of their foundational pieces. LaVine feels like the kind of gamble they can afford.
The Chicago Bulls might have to consider bringing him back over the next handful of days. While a surprise suitor could always arise, it might be better for both parties if he suits up for this restructured team and attempts to recoup some value. I don’t know if it’s teams thinking the Bulls front office can be easily taken advantage of, but this is getting ridiculous. Arturas Karnisovas and Co. shouldn’t have to beg this much for someone to take LaVine off their hands.
More on the idea of bringing LaVine back to the United Center here …
