Chicago Bulls Zach LaVine has missed three games and the Bulls have won them all. Now, the Bulls are saying LaVine’s right foot inflammation will keep him out another three-to-four weeks.
“Zach’s got to take care of himself,” guard DeMar DeRozan said, via K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. “We’ve just got to stay locked in and be prepared for when guys get all the way healthy. We’ve got to keep building.”
LaVine has been at the center of trade rumors for about a month, with both he and the Bulls reportedly being open to a deal. For now, though, there do not appear to be any takers.
“There is not a market for Zach LaVine right now in the NBA,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski recently said on NBA Today. “That’s not because Chicago has not tried to find it and aren’t currently trying to find it.
“It’s a combination of a few reasons. LaVine’s contract at four more years at around a $45 million or $46 million a year average. But his productivity. I think this is a player right now who is out right now with a foot injury. He’s been in and out of the lineup. I think the question for teams is how much does Zach LaVine impact winning. Especially at that salary and with a new salary cap where you’re asking for yourself ‘Are you trading for him to be our best player? No. Our second-best player? No. If he’s our third-best player, do we want to pay that kind of money?'”
LaVine, 28, is averaging 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 18 games.
“Obviously, with Zach out, being the caliber of player he is, it allows for more opportunity. But you can’t replace Zach LaVine,” guard Coby White said. “We try to do it collectively and try to make up for what he does on the floor.”
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