Market Remains Eerily Quiet For Bulls’ Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic

December 13, 2024

Zach LaVine is having a career-best shooting season, hitting 51% of his shots and 43% of his three-pointers, yet the NBA trade market remains oh-so-quiet.

Despite more than a year of rumors and the Bulls continuing to shop him, LaVine’s future in Chicago remains uncertain.

As one source close to the situation bluntly put it to ESPN: “Nothing has changed.”

LaVine is locked into a hefty contract, with $89 million owed over the next two years, plus a $49 million player option for 2026-27. The steep salary and injury history (particularly with his knees) have complicated his trade value.

In today’s NBA, where financial restrictions are tighter than ever, dealing for a player making over $40 million annually is a tough sell. Add that to the fact that LaVine’s skill set doesn’t necessarily fit with every team’s timeline or needs, and it’s easy to see why he’s still wearing a Bulls jersey.

It’s a similar situation with Nikola Vucevic. The center is putting up one of his best seasons yet, averaging 21 points and 9.8 rebounds while shooting an eye-popping 58.7% from the field and 47.4% from three.

But as good as those numbers are, there’s skepticism about whether he can maintain them. More importantly, Vucevic, who is owed another $20 million next season, has long been a defensive liability, and that’s a tough sell for teams with title aspirations.

And with the center position being as deep as it is around the league, Vucevic’s value is more limited than many would like to admit.

In short, while both LaVine and Vucevic are playing well, the Bulls are stuck in a tough spot. The financial hurdles and position depth have left both players in trade limbo, and it’s hard to see either one getting dealt any time soon.