Insider: If Bulls could trade Zach LaVine in next five minutes, they would

For some background, the Bulls reportedly have been exploring LaVine trades since about the third week of the season. LaVine is also very open to being moved, by all accounts.

He missed 17 games with a foot injury, then returned, and the chatter has died down — at least a little. But per Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Chicago remains hopeful of moving LaVine before the Feb. 8 deadline. 

“If they could trade Zach LaVine in the next five minutes, they would trade him and Zach would happily go to the airport,” Windhost said on NBA Today.

The market for Lavine, though, isn’t real strong. It seems no one wants to take on his contract (second of a five-year, $215 million deal), nor give the Bulls anything remotely what they currently want in return.

LaVine is a fine player, a good teammate and someone who always plays hard despite the noise. This season, he’s averaging 20.3 points. So he could help a team such as the Warriors or Lakers. Both want to win and are currently going nowhere.

The question is, as always, at what cost? Apparently, the Bulls and LaVine are hoping that someone, anyone decides the price is right.