Fubo News presents the best trade destinations and packages for Zach LaVine, including the Los Angeles Lakers.
It looks like the Chicago Bulls are starting to realize something that the rest of the NBA discovered about a year ago, that this roster is not constructed to be successful.
Reports have started to come out that not only is Zach LaVine ready to move on, but the team is open to making moves across the roster. This started with a Nov. 14 report from The Athletic that the team was open to roster moves.
That was followed by a report that LaVine is open to trades on Nov. 17, with the obligatory list of desired teams and a passive-aggressive nod to one of those teams.
A LaVine trade today is not the same as it could have been two or three years ago with the former two-time All-Star getting older and in the midst of one of his least productive seasons in years. It is likely this trade will happen at the trade deadline or next summer but let’s preview the market.
Before getting into these fake trades options, it is important to set the table with who LaVine is right now and what he is for a team financially for the next four years.
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LaVine signed a contract that pays him $40.0 million this season, $43.0 million next year, $45.9 million in 2025-2026 and then has a player option for $48.9 million in 2026-2027. A trade for LaVine is a commitment of a massive chunk of a team’s salary cap regardless of the upticks in the coming seasons.
Those would be LaVine’s age-29, -30, -31 and -32 seasons, by the way.
As a player on the court, LaVine is a very talented scorer and a dynamic athlete.
LaVine is also in the midst of one of the least impactful seasons of his career and is two years removed from his last All-Star selection.
What LaVine brings to the table today is a capable scorer (21.3 points per game), who has dipped in efficiency year-over-year since making the All-Star team. He is averaging the second-lowest assist percentage (15.5) of his career, the lowest usage in seven years (25.9) and his lowest true shooting percentage (56.7) in six years.
The other variables to consider for any trade:
- Players that signed with a new team cannot be traded until December 15th, 2023
- Players that re-signed with their current teams cannot be traded until January 15th, 2024
- The NBA Trade Deadline is February 8th, 2024
The “Boring and Obvious” Trade
Los Angeles Lakers: LaVine
Chicago: D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt and a 2023 first-round pick (pick swap)
I’m not convinced this makes Los Angeles a better team for its ultimate goal of hanging another banner in the rafters. They lose depth and continuity as a team, but add another 20-plus point scorer to pair with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves in crunch time.
Los Angeles gives LaVine the best combination of star talent and playmaking around him allowing him to focus on being the most efficient offensive player on a contender.
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The Contender Trade (that LaVine has mentioned)
Sacramento Kings: LaVine and Andre Drummond
Chicago: Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk and JaVale McGee
This one just doesn’t make any sense for a Sacramento team that would be sacrificing depth for a player in LaVine who is marginally better than Huerter this season. It is a lose-lose trade for both teams.
Chicago would be taking on salary (23 million plus) through 2025-2026, one less year than the current LaVine contract while staying about as competitive as it is today.
The Young Teams Are Ready Trade(s)
Orlando Magic: LaVine
Chicago: Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Joe Ingles and two second-round picks (2024 and 2027)
This swing works in all the right ways for Orlando. They move off just expiring contracts, swap LaVine for Fultz and get a much-needed scoring punch. LaVine is insulated with the best defense in the league, with two wings that are capable of creating offense without traditional playmaking guards.
The “We Cannot Get Joel Embiid or Donovan Mitchell” Trade
Miami Heat: LaVine and Alex Caruso
Chicago: Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson and a lottery-protected 2027 1st round pick
While losing Robinson would be a huge blow, getting another scorer the caliber of LaVine makes Miami more dangerous in the playoffs. The more valuable addition might be Caruso, who is one of the best defenders in the league and would fit right in from day one.
The Most Fun Trade
Charlotte Hornets: LaVine
Chicago: Gordon Hayward, James Bouknight, lottery-protected 2026 first-round pick and 2024 second-round pick (from the Boston Celtics)
The most fun outcome for LaVine is playing with LaMelo Ball in Charlotte, whether he realizes it or not. Ball would be the best passer and playmaker that LaVine has ever played with, setting the stage for easier scoring opportunities.
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This exercise has proven one pretty undeniable fact about any LaVine trade this season: it will not be easy. The yield will also not be what a star player or All-Star has gone for in recent years.
LaVine is a star who has shown a steady decline over the past three years, is not a very efficient scorer and is limited as a playmaker and defender.
Getting back expiring contracts and a modest cache of picks is the more likely situation. An expiring that the team can then hopefully move for more picks, building up the opportunity to properly engage with a much-needed rebuild.
Regional restrictions may apply.
