Bulls Have Held Zach LaVine Trade Talks With Lakers, Nuggets; No Deal Close

The Chicago Bulls have been upfront about their efforts to trade Zach LaVine, with the veteran wing the subject of multiple trade talks again this season.

Earlier in the year, the Bulls engaged with the Los Angeles Lakers, but those discussions ultimately went nowhere, wrote Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. And with the Lakers moving D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets, it’s unlikely those conversations will be revived anytime soon.

More recently, Chicago has held discussions with the Denver Nuggets about a potential LaVine deal, though those talks have stalled, Cowley reported, citing sources. While not entirely dead, there hasn’t been significant movement in that direction either.

Despite the trade rumors swirling around him, LaVine is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career.

He’s averaging 23.6 points per game, shooting a blistering 52% from the field, 44% from beyond the arc, and 81% from the free-throw line. On top of that, he’s contributing 4.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per night.

“LaVine and the Bulls, however, remain hostages by the game of chicken happening on South Beach with the Heat and Jimmy Butler, as well as the dumpster fire that has become the Pelicans,” Cowley wrote.

It’s clear LaVine’s performance is only adding to his value, making it all the more intriguing to see how the Bulls navigate the rest of this season.

Whether he stays or gets moved, LaVine is showing why he’s been discussed in trade talks. That’s a change from last season, when he spent time on the injured list and gave a fairly uneven showing.

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