Tag: Zach LaVine

De’Aaron Fox and Zach LaVine trade grades: Who won the massive 3-team deal?

San Antonio clearly got the best return here.

Less than 24 hours perhaps the most shocking trade in basketball history, the NBA saw another blockbuster move on Sunday evening.

After he was rumored as a potential trade target for the Spurs last week, De’Aaron Fox was included in a three-team deal from Sacramento to San Antonio.

This means the Spurs have found their point guard of the future to pair alongside Victor Wembanyama, which is exciting for fans of the emerging superstar.

Meanwhile, longtime Bulls guard Zach LaVine was sent to Sacramento to keep them as potential contenders in the Western Conference.

The Bulls did not exactly move the needle much with this one beyond from moving off LaVine, but they did regain control of their own future pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft.

Trade details

  • Spurs get: De’Aaron Fox, Jordan McLaughlin
  • Kings get: Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first round picks (2025 CHA protected 1-14 , 2027 SAS, 2031 MIN), three second round picks (2025 CHI, 2028 DEN, 2028 own back)
  • Bulls get: Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, their own 2025 pick via SAS

San Antonio Spurs

There were some questions about whether or not Fox was the ideal mutual fit for both parties.

But the reality is that the Spurs were able to land a player with All-Star potential without giving up any of the players in their young core, including rookie breakout Stephon Castle.

Now the Spurs can have Fox playing alongside Wembanyama and Chris Paul as well as Castle, Jeremy Sochan Sochan, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and various other promising talents in San Antonio.

They also kept their 2025 first-round draft pick from the Hawks, which may become valuable now that Atlanta forward Jalen Johnson is out for the rest of the season. Outside of the 2031 NBA Draft pick from the Timberwolves, they retained all of their most valuable draft capital.

It has become incredibly clear that San Antonio will contend for years to come with Wembanyama already establishing himself as one of the most dominant two-way players in the sport.

Fox can get the team playing fast and adding a new dynamic to what they can do on the offensive side of the ball without compromising their future assets.

Grade: A

Sacramento Kings

If the Kings knew that Fox was not going to re-sign with this franchise on a long-term extension and that he had a preferred destination, there was only so much that they could do.

That being said, while there are a lot of draft picks, this is not a particularly great return for a franchise cornerstone like Fox.

Sacramento may not have had much leverage in this situation but the fact the pick they received from the Hornets is so protected means it is actually more of an additional two second-rounders rather than a third first-rounder.

They can still compete with LaVine even if the pairing with DeMar DeRozan in Chicago did not work great the first go-around. His addition does not make them a favorite in the West and his contract is not exactly favorable for the front office, either.

Grade: D+

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls mostly just moved off their LaVine contract, which was long considered available to any potential suitors.

Most attractive for Chicago is that they regained control of their draft pick in this upcoming class, which will give them a chance to bottom out and keep control of their lottery destiny.

But they essentially netted zero first-round picks for LaVine after also not returning any draft picks for Alex Caruso this past offseason either.

We can expect that Chicago could continue to make moves to continue its potential rebuild, likely including trading away notable players like Nikola Vucevic and perhaps Lonzo Ball.

Grade: D-

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Michael Porter Jr. was notably benched amidst trade rumors for the Nuggets

This is worth monitoring for MPJ.

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. was not on the court during an overtime win for his team against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Porter had just 8 points while shooting 2-of-8 with the worst plus-minus of anyone who played for the Nuggets yesterday. He checked out of the game in the third quarter and did not return despite the battle heading into overtime.

These things happen over the course of an 82-game season, and Porter just simply did not have it going on Sunday. Denver head coach Michael Malone clearly noticed this and decided to play those in his rotation who would bring more life to the court.

But the timing of the poor performance is particularly notable considering that Porter has found his name in trade rumors for the Nuggets recently.

The conversation began after an article from The Athletic linked Chicago’s Zach LaVine as a potential fit for Denver. For such a trade to happen, the Nuggets would have to include Porter’s salary.

According to the report, while the organization has discussed a possible extension for Porter, there was also talk of potentially including him in a deal for Paul George this past offseason.

Naturally, this led other reporters to look into the availability of Porter as well. Here is more from Marc Stein and Jake Fischer (via Substack):

“League sources say that the Nuggets have indeed weighed whether to trade away Michael Porter Jr.

What began with the Nuggets exploring the feasibility of trading Porter for Paul George this past summer, before George bolted Clipperland for Philadelphia in free agency, has expanded to internal discussions this season, sources say, about whether such a step has to be considered even more strongly now.”

This report speculated that perhaps Denver would prefer to move Porter for “two starting-caliber players” rather than one notable name like LaVine.

Possible combinations include Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter from the Hawks or Cameron Johnson and Dorrian Finney-Smith from the Nets.

Porter is 6-foot-10 and has shot above 40.0 percent from beyond the arc in his NBA career.

The list of players his height who shoot with his accuracy at his volume is an impressive group.

Still only 26 years old, while he has no All-Star appearances yet, there is still a lot to like about Porter. He has room to improve his consistency, and for the Nuggets, they may prefer to have depth in their rotation.

But no matter what, the timing of him getting benched in a close game while also amidst trade rumors is a situation that is worth monitoring for Porter and his potential suitors.

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2024-25 Chicago Bulls: A quick preview

The Chicago Bulls appear ready to dismantle their roster and focus on a full rebuild around their remaining young talent. After years without significant roster changes, the Bulls shook things up this summer by trading away DeMar DeRozan, their top …

The Chicago Bulls appear ready to dismantle their roster and focus on a full rebuild around their remaining young talent. After years without significant roster changes, the Bulls shook things up this summer by trading away DeMar DeRozan, their top offensive weapon, and Alex Caruso, their defensive anchor. Although they missed the optimal window to get maximum value for both players, their trades have now positioned the team for a youth movement.

The future now centers around guard Josh Giddey, rookie forward Matas Buzelis, Coby White, and Patrick Williams. Buzelis, the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft, had an impressive Summer League showing and is expected to play a significant role this season. Standing at 6-foot-8 with rare ball-handling skills for his size, Buzelis brings much-needed versatility to the Bulls, though his shooting remains a work in progress.

Despite persistent trade rumors, Zach LaVine remains on the roster, leaving questions about whether the Bulls will trade him before the season or if he still fits into their future plans. Nikola Vucevic has also failed to meet expectations in Chicago, leaving the Bulls with a depleted frontcourt. The only reinforcement heading into the season is the addition of Jalen Smith on a bargain contract.

Bleacher Report proposes Lakers trade four players for Zach LaVine

A Bleacher Report writer suggested the Lakers make this questionable trade to land two-time All-Star Zach LaVine.

Are the Los Angeles Lakers going to make any moves this offseason? We’re roughly midway through the summer, and yet they haven’t brought in a single player from another team.

Their only newcomers who are on standard contracts are draft picks Dalton Knecht and Bronny James. While Knecht, the No. 17 pick in June’s draft, was expected by many to be a top-10 pick and is considered arguably the most NBA-ready incoming rookie, he cannot necessarily be expected to make a sizable impact this coming season.

Just about everyone agrees the Lakers need a two-way wing and a defensive center. Some would also say they need a legitimate third scorer, if not a legitimate third star.

To that end, Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report suggested the Lakers ship out four players in return for the Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine, a player they’ve been repeatedly been linked to.

Via Bleacher Report:

“The Trade: Los Angeles Lakers acquire Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls for Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes,” wrote Hughes.

“LeBron James and Anthony Davis are still as good as it gets among NBA duos, and the Lakers can’t go into the 2024-25 season without taking a big swing at supporting them with more high-end talent.

“You’ll notice we didn’t say ‘high-end availability and a demonstrated capacity to drive winning.’ That’s because Zach LaVine, who’s been viewed as something pretty close to trade poison over the last year or so, doesn’t have those things. What he does have is elite scoring skill, as demonstrated by his pair of All-Star nods and 2022-23 average of 24.8 points on a 48.5/37.5/84.8 shooting split.”

LaVine is a somewhat polarizing player. While he is a proven scorer and a pretty efficient one, as Hughes pointed out, it is unclear whether the numbers he puts up can make an impact on a winning team. He has played on a team that finished with a winning record just once — that was in the 2021-22 season when the Bulls won 26 of their first 36 games but lost 15 of their final 22.

Then there is his injury history. He has appeared in over 67 games just once in the last eight seasons, and he played in just 25 games this past season.

If that wasn’t enough, the trade Hughes suggested would leave Los Angeles bereft of frontcourt depth while jettisoning arguably their only effective wing or perimeter defender in Vanderbilt.

The Warriors reportedly rebuffed the Bulls over a Zach LaVine offer and moved on really quickly

It’s kinda unbelievable how no one wants Zach LaVine.

NBA free agency began with rumors that there wasn’t much of a market for Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine. It appears those were rumors that were completely founded.

As the new NBA league year officially kicked, TNT’s Chris Haynes reported that the Bulls offered to trade LaVine to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins. The Warriors apparently wanted no part of LaVine — at least for that proposed deal — and pivoted to eventually waiving the veteran Paul.

Am I the only one who thinks that would’ve been a good trade for the Warriors? Oof. At any rate, tough break, Bulls:

The Warriors are in the process of trying to revitalize the Steph Curry era. And I know LaVine’s skill set isn’t the most enticing for a team trying to compete for a championship, but I think he would’ve actually fit perfectly in the Bay Area. Unless Golden State has grander ambitions (Paul George?), declining a deal for LaVine that included a player it would wave anyway doesn’t make much sense.

From the rebuilding Bulls’ perspective, if they really can’t trade LaVine, they are locked into at least two more years of the scorer if he doesn’t exercise a player option two years from now. With the way free agency and the trade market are already unfolding, that would be a disaster for a team apparently trying to tear it all down. It would effectively put their hopeful rebuild on hold.

Should the Chicago Bulls trade Zach LaVine to the Detroit Pistons for fifth pick of the 2024 NBA draft?

Would such a deal make sense for both parties?

We have heard rumbles about the Chicago Bulls perhaps trying to move up in the 2024 NBA draft lottery to get the player they have set their sights on (whoever that may be), but sparse chatter about what such a move might actually look like.

But one team analyst recently made a stab at creating a framework and a range of targets on such a swap, hinting at dealing away Zach LaVine and the Bulls’ 11th overall pick for Isaiah Stewart and the fifth overall pick of the draft. This would be the cohost of the “CHGO Bulls” podcast, Will Gottlieb, who proposes the Bulls then use that pick to pursue University of Connecticut big man Donovan Clingan or other top prospects in the draft.

Would such a deal make sense for both parties? Could both teams find easier, less costly ways to fill key roles on their rosters moving forward? Or is this a slam dunk of an idea?

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear his take and react.

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Would you trade veteran Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine to the Utah Jazz for Jordan Clarkson and John Collins?

Would it be enough of a return for the oft-injured guard on a substantial contract?

Would you trade veteran Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine to the Utah Jazz for Jordan Clarkson and John Collins? Such a proposal was recently floated by ESPN cap guru Bobby Marks, and in the form he came up with, would send LaVine to Danny Ainge and Co. for Clarkson and Collins with no draft assets or cash.

Collins and Clarkson would immediately fill the voids of a big wing and a more modern big man that Chicago currently lacks, and if it does work out, they each have two years remaining on their tradeable contracts, making flipping them not so onerous.

The hosts of the “CHGO Bulls” podcast took a closer look at the proposed deal, and debated whether it would be enough of a return for the oft-injured guard on a substantial contract.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

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Could the Utah Jazz be a trade partner for veteran Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine?

We’ve seen some interest from the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers, but what about the Jazz?

Could the Utah Jazz be a trade partner for veteran Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine? By now, it is the NBA’s worst-kept secret that the Chicago Bulls are trying their hardest to find a new home for the UCLA alum. And while things have mostly stood still on that front since the start of the 2024 NBA offseason, there has been some traction of late, reportedly.

With word circulating out there that the Bulls have lowered their asking price to acquire LaVine’s considerable contract, we have seen some interest from the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers, but what about the Jazz?

To take a closer look at such a possibility and what sort of a return any deal with Utah and their general manager Danny Ainge might entail, the hosts of the “Locked On Bulls” podcast, Haize and Pat the Designer, focused on the possibility on a recent episode of their show.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say!

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What a trade for Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine to the Los Angeles Lakers might look like

What might such a deal for the UCLA alum might look like for both sides?

With word out on the street that the potential asking price for teams interested in bringing on Chicago Bulls star guard Zach LaVine has dropped, the rumbles of potentially interested teams has picked up. We previously reported on rubles about the Philadelphia 76ers being among such ball clubs, and now we can add the Los Angeles Lakers to such a list.

And to get the perspective of how fans and analysts of that storied club are looking at a potential LaVine trade, we tracked down a podcast from the folks over at the “Locked on Lakers” pod. On it, hosts Andy and Brian Kamenetzky get into the teeth of what such a deal for the UCLA alum might look like for both sides.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear their take on whether the Lakers ought to pull the trigger on a trade for Bulls guard Zach LaVine.

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Could Bulls’ Zach LaVine be a trade option for the Philadelphia 76ers?

Could Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine be an option for the Philadelphia 76ers through trade?

The Philadelphia 76ers will be in the market for a big name in order to add to their star duo of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as they look to contend in the Eastern Conference. They have all the cap space they need to make sure they get the third star they need.

Philadelphia will be looking at Paul George as its No. 1 target. He will likely enter free agency as he and the Los Angeles Clippers have been unable to agree to a deal and the Sixers are known to have a ton of interest in him.

However, there is also the trade route as Philadelphia has the cap space to absorb any big deal without having to match salary. One option is Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine who has long been a rumored trade option for the Bulls.

NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson stated this little tidbit on LaVine:

I don’t think the Bulls will take an awful deal if little materializes, but I do get the sense they’re open to more possibilities than before. More to the point: I’ve reported before what their asking price was—All-Star level talent, first-round picks or both—and my sense is that it has dropped significantly.

The Bulls have been mired in mediocrity recently as injuries have hampered them and it may be time for Chicago to make changes. The Sixers have the draft picks to call the Bulls and bring LaVine to the City of Brotherly Love.

He averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while playing in only 25 games in the 2023-24 season due to a foot injury. When healthy, LaVine is one of the more explosive athletes in the league and somebody who can score in bunches.

The issue with LaVine is he is not the greatest defender. While he is an obvious scorer and somebody who can make a difference on that end of the floor, he can struggle defensively at times. Maybe a change of scenery will help him in that regard.

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