Bulls open to trading Zach LaVine; Lakers, Heat and 76ers all interested, per sources

NBA teams are actively exploring the possibility of acquiring the talents of two-time All-Star guard Zach LaVine, with increasing willingness from both LaVine and the Chicago Bulls to consider a trade, according to sources within the league. Here’s what you need to know:

Backstory

Following their 124-104 season-opening defeat to Oklahoma City, a number of players, led by veteran Nikola Vučević, voiced frustration with the Bulls’ offense. They felt that it was too similar to last season’s, despite being led to believe there would be significant changes, as disclosed by league sources.

Off the court, sources revealed that the Bulls, who are largely retaining their core players from last season, are eager to re-sign DeMar DeRozan, whose contract is set to expire. However, DeRozan’s future in Chicago remains uncertain. Discussions for a contract extension between the Bulls and DeRozan have taken place, but differences in years and salary have yet to be resolved. The 34-year-old DeRozan is hesitant to commit to a return until he sees the direction the team is headed in.

How LaVine and Bulls got here

Since his arrival from Minnesota as part of the Jimmy Butler trade in 2017, LaVine has been the consistent figure for the Bulls, symbolizing the franchise’s struggles to establish a winning team. Since the 2017-18 season, the Bulls have accumulated a record of 192-284, only making the playoffs once, and being eliminated in the 2022 first round after five games. Chicago has gone through three coaches and two management regimes during this time.

LaVine signed a five-year, $215-million maximum contract before the 2022-23 season. However, the Bulls missed the playoffs last season, and their 4-7 start to this season has expedited the consideration of other options for LaVine and the Bulls. —Darnell Mayberry, senior Bulls writer

What a LaVine trade would mean

The Bulls have heavily relied on LaVine’s scoring over the past six seasons. His absence would mean losing one of the game’s best isolation scorers and perimeter shooters. However, it could also present the Bulls with the opportunity to rethink their offense. Rather than focusing on LaVine as the main offensive threat, the Bulls might be able to implement an egalitarian system, making all five players significant threats and challenging to defend. —Mayberry

Required reading

(Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski / USA Today)