Report: Bulls offered Zach LaVine for Cavs’ Darius Garland

Trade talks centered on guard Zach LaVine have heated up and the Chicago Bulls are having no luck finding a deal. But it’s apparently not for a lack of trying.

Per Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, one such attempt came in a call to the Cleveland Cavaliers, in which the Bulls suggested swapping LaVine for point guard Darius Garland. That clearly went nowhere.

As an aside, both LaVine and Garland and represented by power agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. 

No matter, sources told Hoops Wire the Cavs are not looking to trade Garland and consider him a vital part of their future.

For now, it seems as if the Bulls are seeking several players for just LaVine, though they may be willing to throw in some assets, per reports. But Chicago head of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas is said to be starting trade talks by aiming high.

There are several factors that could be working against the Bulls in their efforts to trade LaVine at the moment. For one, he has four years left on a hefty contract. Secondly, he’s out with an injured foot, likely for another month. Plus, the Bulls struggled mightily with him and have gone 5-2 since he’s been out.

That last part may be a coincidence, but it still can be factored into trade negotiations by rival executives. Overall, though, multiple reports suggest that LaVine has not been moving the needle when it comes to outside interest.

Certainly, the Cavs would not take him for what the Bulls suggested as a return.