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Chicago Bulls’ Trade Plan for $215 Million Star, Revealed

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics
By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated 3/12/24

The Chicago Bulls have been trying to move Zach LaVine and his mammoth $215.16 million contract for some time now, and they won’t be stopping when they get the next opportunity to do so.

After failing to trade the star guard in the 2023-24 trade deadline due to his injury and contract, the Bulls are reportedly going to try to deal him away in the offseason. Sure enough, Chicago is hoping there will be more interested parties in the 29-year-old.

Zach LaVine Trade From Chicago Bulls Coming?

LaVine is currently recovering from a right foot injury that required surgery. He has been out since January 20, and he underwent surgery on February 8 to address his nagging foot issue–a situation that all but ended the Bulls’ hopes to move him prior to the trade deadline.

Despite that failure, however, the Bulls are determined to part ways with LaVine, according to NBC Sports Chicago.

“The Bulls engaged in multiple trade conversations centered on LaVine dating to last offseason. When this season began poorly, both the Bulls and LaVine’s representation agreed to be open to trying to find LaVine a new home. But NBC Sports Chicago reported last month that LaVine never specifically asked to be traded,” KC Johnson of NBC Sports wrote.

“Nevertheless, the Bulls engaged with the Detroit Pistons leading up to the Feb. 8 trade deadline but gained little traction on moving LaVine. A source said the Bulls will look to trade LaVine again this offseason.”

Now it remains to be seen which teams will be interested in LaVine . The Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings have been previously linked with a trade for the two-time All-Star, so it will be intriguing to see if they will reopen those talks.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been mentioned as a potential trade destination as well, but the Purple and Gold didn’t show much interest and nothing ever materialized.

The Problem With Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine Trade

However, trading Zach LaVine won’t be as easy as it sounds, as the Chicago Bulls have already learned during the past trade deadline.

Reports prior to the 2024 deadline mentioned that LaVine’s trade value was “so rough” that the Bulls may have had to add another asset just to move him, per Bleacher Report. Things likely won’t change that much, especially since LaVine is coming off an injury.

LaVine’s injury history is definitely concerning, and his massive contract doesn’t help. With that said, it might turn off other teams who could probably get a different and more reliable player health-wise elsewhere.

Of course a desperate team needing some star power could end up making a move for LaVine, but Bulls fans shouldn’t get their hopes up.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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