Tag: Zach LaVine

Report: Bulls ‘worked hard’ to trade Zach LaVine prior to injury

The Chicago Bulls reportedly tried hard to trade Zach LaVine before his injury led to season-ending surgery.

The Chicago Bulls didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline. Rather than resetting the roster around Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Patrick Williams, they kept everybody on board in favor of making a push for the playoffs this year. And while they have plenty of solid players on the roster, they don’t have the talent to compete with the top teams in the East.

Just because they didn’t make any moves doesn’t mean they didn’t try, however. In fact, they were attempting to make a blockbuster move, but outside factors got in the way, leading to them standing pat.

According to Howard Beck of The Ringer, the Bulls were trying very hard to get rid of Zach LaVine prior to his season-ending surgery.

“More than one executive also listed the Miami Heat as a potential candidate for a shake-up, given Jimmy Butler’s age (35 in September) and mileage,” Beck wrote. “The Chicago Bulls, who worked hard to unload Zach LaVine before he got hurt, will surely try again.”

At this point, it seems likely that LaVine has played his last game in a Bulls jersey.

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Did Zach LaVine get surgery to prevent the Chicago Bulls from trading him to the Detroit Pistons?

Was the call made to stave off a change of address, or were the repeated attempts to get his lower extremities into game shape simply too much for him to bear?

Did Zach LaVine get surgery to prevent the Chicago Bulls from trading him to the Detroit Pistons? This is not to say that the UCLA alum’s right foot has not been a problem for him, or that his injury was in any way less than it has been framed as. But the timing of his decision — effectively tanking any chance of dealing away LaVine before the Feb. 8 trade deadline — was certainly an effective shield against such an outcome.

Was the call made to stave off a change of address, or were the repeated attempts to get his lower extremities into game shape simply too much for him to bear?

This was the topic of conversation among several on a recent episode of ESPN’s “Numbers on the Board” podcast, which saw hosts Derrick and Pierre join Kenny Beecham to discuss Zach LaVine’s opting for a season-ending surgery.

Check it out above!

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What’s next for Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls after his season-ending foot surgery?

Chicago’s front office is going to want to proceed with caution in how they use LaVine’s contract in their presumed retool of the roster, but is there a chance they try to run it back?

What’s next for Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls after his season-ending foot surgery? LaVine’s trade value ahead of the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline has been in something of a free fall. This strongly suggests that LaVine will be in red and white through at least the end of the season.

But could the Bulls find him a home in the 2024 offseason, when teams have more assets to move and the UCLA alum can show his recovery is coming along apace — or even successful, with some luck? Chicago’s front office is going to want to proceed with caution in how they use LaVine’s contract in their presumed retool of the roster, but is there a chance they try to run it back?

The eponymous host of the Ball Don’t Lie “Good Word with Goodwill” podcast linked up with Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer to talk it over.

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

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Scotto: Pistons no longer into LaVine trade, Drummond picking up interest

LaVine to stay, Drummond to go?

To the likely surprise of few, we are hearing that the Detroit Pistons are cooling off in their reported pursuit of Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine in the wake of his season-ending surgery according to new reporting from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

Per Scotto, Chicago’s “trade talks with the Pistons have stalled with Detroit no longer interested.” But a Bulls player “who could be dealt, however, is center Andre Drummond,” who has drawn trade interest from the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns ahead of the Feb. 8 moratorium on moving players between teams this season.

“The Rockets also considered making a run at Drummond before acquiring Steven Adams,” notes Scotto.

The HoopsHype reporter also notes that Chicago’s asking price for Alex Caruso remains high, “the equivalent of two first-round picks to consider moving the All-Defensive guard. ”

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How will Zach LaVine’s season-ending surgery impact what the Chicago Bulls do at the 2024 NBA trade deadline?

His surgery has almost certainly dampened any external interest in dealing for the UCLA alum.

How will Zach LaVine’s season-ending surgery impact what the Chicago Bulls do at the 2024 NBA trade deadline? The decision made by LaVine, the Bulls, and his agent to elect for the surgery on his right foot that will keep him out for four to six months has almost certainly dampened any external interest in dealing for the UCLA alum.

But that does not mean that Chicago won’t be taking calls or making deals at the deadline. Nor will it keep the Bulls’ front office from trading LaVine in the offseason when more teams will be in a position to make a move.

There are plenty of trade rumors out there of interest in Alex Caruso, Andre Drummond, and even Patrick Williams, and the front office ought to move off the contract of DeMar DeRozan before he can leave for nothing.

The host of the NBC Sports Chicago “Bulls Talk” podcast K.C. Johnson and Kevin Anderson shared their thoughts on how Chicago’s deadline will go — check it out above.

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Warriors interested in trading for Alex Caruso ahead of the 2024 NBA trade deadline

Word is the Pistons were in pursuit of Zach LaVine before his foot surgery also.

Soon, we will be counting the time to the end of the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline in hours instead of days. And with the Chicago Bulls one of the most popular ball clubs in the league as a potential seller ahead of the deadline, rumbles are heating up.

We are hearing word that the Golden State Warriors are making calls about trading for Chicago guard Alex Caruso to help to try to salvage their season. And we have learned that the Bulls were still in the mix with the Detroit Pistons about a potential Zach LaVine swap until his decision to get foot surgery likely ended that possibility.

Where does this leave Chicago in terms of having value to convert to younger players and draft assets ahead of the Feb. 8 moratorium on deals?

The host of the “Chicago Bulls Central” podcast Haize spent some time looking into these questions on a recent episode. Check it out above!

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How much will Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine’s injury hurt his future trade value?

Will surgery diminish his future value as a trade target?

How much will Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine‘s injury hurt his future trade value? The UCLA alum was in the midst of getting some trade interest from the Detroit Pistons before LaVine, the Bulls, and his management elected to have season-ending surgery on his right foot. Will this decision diminish his future value as a trade target?

It seems very likely that if LaVine is dealt, it will not be before the league’s Feb. 8 moratorium on trading players for the 2023-24 NBA season. But in the 2024 offseason, it will be easier for ball clubs to manage the sort of trade it will take to get off LaVine’s contract, given teams will have more open roster spots and a clearer picture of their future.

To try to get a bead on what sort of ask LaVine’s contract could command in light of this injury, host of the “Chicago Bulls Central” podcast Haize took some time on a recent episode to do a deep dive into the subject.

Check it out above!

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Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan reacts to Zach LaVine’s season-ending injury

After it was announced that Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine would have season-ending foot surgery, DeMar DeRozan reacted to the news.

The Chicago Bulls have a hit a wall in terms of injuries. Torrey Craig has missed a ton of time, Patrick Williams has been out, and Nikola Vucevic was absent for some games, too. But nobody has dealt with more injury issues this season than Zach LaVine.

LaVine missed over a month with a foot injury but returned at the beginning of January. However, he then hurt his ankle after just seven games back. And now, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, LaVine has elected to have season-ending surgery on his foot, so he won’t be back on the court for the Bulls this year.

After the news was put out, DeMar DeRozan reacted to LaVine’s injury.

“When you go through a situation like that, I’m pretty sure it’s frustrating, it’s tough on him,” DeRozan said via ESPN. “It’s a whole different type of mental hurdle he’s got to go through with that. So hoping for the best for him.”

LaVine has been thrown around in trade rumors this season, as the Bulls have reportedly been focused on finding a deal for him, but it now seems certain that he’ll remain in Chicago until the offseason, at the very least.

Before going down, LaVine had been having a solid season. He was averaging 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field and 34.9% from behind the three-point line.

Getting LaVine healthy will undoubtedly be the main priority for the Bulls, but rather than welcoming him back to the floor next season, they could look to ship him out to another squad ahead of next year.

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Reports: Chicago’s Zach LaVine elects to have foot surgery, will miss remainder of season

It seems all but certain LaVine will remain with the team beyond the Feb. 8 trade deadline as a result.

With news breaking that Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine will be out through the end of the NBA’s 2023-24 regular season per multiple sources, it seems all but certain LaVine will remain with the team beyond the Feb. 8 trade deadline. Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the “Bulls say … LaVine, in consultation with team and Klutch Sports Group” elected to get the surgery on his right foot.

Charania also notes LaVine will have the surgery next week and is expected to miss 4-to-6 months. A press release from the Bulls’ organization noted that the UCLA alum sought out other opinions before choosing to get surgery.

The Chicago star will turn 29 this coming March, and will have three years left (the last being a player option) on a four-year, $178 million deal he is currently playing the first season of.

LaVine has averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game with Chicago this season.

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Report: Bulls could have to pay to get off Zach LaVine’s contract

The Chicago Bulls may have to add additional assets to a deal if they want to trade Zach LaVine.

As the Chicago Bulls get ready to tackle the trade deadline, they’ll have some interesting decisions to make. Should they trade DeMar DeRozan? Will they hold on to Andre Drummond, Jevon Carter, and Torrey Craig? Is selling high on Alex Caruso the right decision, or should they keep him around to help them compete for the Play-In Tournament?

But perhaps the most important choice the Bulls will have to make is whether or not to push for a Zach LaVine trade. Interest around the league has been iffy, and if the Bulls want to move the star guard, they likely won’t end up getting the return they want.

According to KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, the Bulls might have to add other assets to LaVine’s contract just to trade him.

“There’s a growing feeling among rival executives that the Bulls may have to attach another asset to move LaVine, something sources said the Bulls have been hesitant to do to this point,” Johnson wrote.”An alternative could be to merely move LaVine as a salary dump for expiring contracts, although NBC Sports Chicago has previously reported that the Bulls weren’t at that stage yet. Plus, of course, it would take another team willing to do that.”

LaVine is under contract through the 2026-27 season, making just under $50 million in his final year. Add in his injury issues and subpar play on the defensive side of the ball, and it makes sense why some teams around the league would be hesitant to make a move for him, let alone give up significant assets to get him.

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