Bulls’ Zach LaVine Offers Hope That Lack Of Trade Interest Maybe Isn’t So Awful

October 13, 2024

Zach LaVine’s name has been swirling in trade rumors for months now, but hey, maybe the Bulls will want to pump the brakes on that idea.

On Saturday night, LaVine showed why he’s still one of the league’s most dangerous scorers, dropping 28 points in just 22 minutes. And better yet, he didn’t miss a single one of his six 3-point attempts.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan certainly liked what he saw, especially in LaVine’s aggressive approach.

“Zach was really decisive,” Donovan said, via Sam Smith of Bulls.com. “When he had daylight and a crack, he shot it. We need him to do that.” And when LaVine gets rolling, it’s game over. His mix of athleticism, speed, and shooting touch makes him one of the toughest covers in the league, particularly in transition.

The issue, of course, has always been health. LaVine managed just 25 games last season, and that hefty contract — $43 million this year, rising to $49 million by 2026-27 — has cooled trade interest.

But the LaVine we saw on Saturday? That’s the player Chicago hoped they’d be getting when they signed him to that mega deal. Quick, smooth, and decisive — that version of LaVine can make you think twice about trading him.

So where does that leave the Bulls? If LaVine can stay healthy and keep this up, they might be better off holding onto him and seeing how far he can take them.

After all, it’s hard to trade away a player who, on any given night, can completely take over a game. Chicago has some decisions to make, but if LaVine keeps showing out like this, the Bulls may want to keep their borderline All-Star right where he is.