Stuck in the middle tier of the National Basketball Association, the Chicago Bulls have a lot of work to do as a franchise.
After a 39-43 season that saw the Bulls eliminated in the final playoff game by the Miami Heat, the Bulls were faced with a decision. They could either return with the current core and hope to do better in a deep Eastern Conference, or they could blow it up and start over.
The Bulls appeared to have started heading in the latter direction when they traded former All-Star DeMar DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings in July. But they still have high-priced talent, including a contract that could hamper other necessary signings in the future.
Guard Zach LaVine, who signed a five-year, $215 million extension with the Bulls in 2022, is widely considered to have one of the most overvalued contracts in the league. It will be difficult for the Bulls to get out of that contract, but one reporter thinks they can do it.
In a piece published Friday about “realistic” NBA trades, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley proposed to send LaVine and a 2029 first-round pick swap with the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Michael Porter Jr. and Zeke Nnaji.
“The three-time MVP (Nikola Jokic) might appreciate having another shooter and shot creator of LaVine’s caliber,” LaVine said. “As brutal as his contract is, his offensive punch is powerful.”
LaVine, 29, still has the ability to be a very productive scorer for a good NBA team. He is a two-time All-Star, has averaged over 20 points per game over his 10-year career and averaged 27.4 points for the Bulls in his best season in 2020-21.
But LaVine has regressed in each of the last three seasons, and the Bulls don’t appear to have enough talent around him to contend for a title even if he plays like the best version of himself.
Moving LaVine’s contract to a team like Denver that would use him in a more limited role could have a more positive impact on the Bulls’ future. But it takes two to tango, and the Bulls would need the Nuggets’ approval to make the deal happen.
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