Rival Teams Aren’t Sure Bulls Star Zach LaVine ‘Is Worth The Commitment’

According to NBA reporter Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, rival teams aren’t sure Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine “is worth the commitment.”

LaVine is coming off right foot surgery and has three years and $138 million left on his contract.

“LaVine’s name likely will be in trade rumors for the remainder of his career,” Mayberry wrote. “His strengths, weaknesses, contract, ego and injury history combine to form a fabulous but flawed talent, one capable of helping any team but only under the right conditions.

“It all makes LaVine a difficult fit. The Bulls have outgrown him. Rival teams aren’t sure LaVine is worth the commitment. LaVine is coming off right foot surgery and has three years and $138 million left on his contract.”

The Bulls will attempt to trade LaVine this offseason after failing to find a taker for him this season.

LaVine played in just 25 games this season. He underwent season-ending right foot surgery in February.

A two-time All-Star, LaVine averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 2023-24 while shooting 45.2% from the field, 34.9% from beyond the arc and 85.4% from the free-throw line.

LaVine signed a five-year, $215 million contract with the Bulls in July 2022. He’ll make $43 million next season and $45 million in 2025-26.

A UCLA product, LaVine has career NBA averages of 20.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Bulls.

Chicago has won just one playoff game since acquiring LaVine from Minnesota in 2017. 

A source told Hoops Wire that LaVine “would like” to get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. LaVine, LeBron James and Anthony Davis have the same agent (Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group). 

However, the Lakers are not expected to pursue a LaVine trade, sources said. 

According to NBA insider K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, LaVine and the Bulls are “motivated” to part ways this offseason. 

“Content may be the wrong word, and I do get the sense both sides are motivated to make something work this offseason,” Johnson wrote in his latest mailbag. “I don’t think the Bulls will take an awful deal if little materializes, but I do get the sense they’re open to more possibilities than before. More to the point: I’ve reported before what their asking price was—All-Star level talent, first-round picks or both—and my sense is that it has dropped significantly.

“As I’ve said from the beginning regarding this situation: This is like a relationship that has run its course. And you’re right: Both sides have remained very professional to this point, and I expect that to continue. But the desire from both sides to make a change has grown.”