Report: Bulls unlikely to trade Zach LaVine before January

While Bulls guard Zach LaVine is the name being mentioned most on the NBA’s early-season rumor mill, he’s not likely going anywhere anytime soon, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Instead, despite some recent drama involving LaVine and a walk-off interview, a trade may not even happen at all, Stein relayed.

The thing that could keep LaVine in Chicago for at least several more weeks? You guessed it — his large contract. He is due to make $40 million this season, $43 million next and $48 the year after that. LaVine, 28, also has a player option for nearly $49 million in 2026-27.

“A trade involving a contract as substantial as LaVine’s is tricky to construct in the best of times and a far more significant undertaking before Dec. 15, for starters, when roughly 25% of the league’s nearly 450 players on standard contracts is still ineligible to be traded,” Stein wrote.

There was a lot of public celebrating when the Bulls and LaVine agreed to a max contract extension more than a year ago — but things sure can turn quickly in the NBA. Both LaVine and the Bulls are said to be very open to a trade.

But good luck finding one. Per Stein, the sides may indeed be stuck together for a while.

In the meantime, LaVine has been linked to the Lakers, Heat and a few others. One source told Hoops Wire the Hornets have a strong interest … though again, it’s a matter of LaVine’s contract. It may be giving them pause, the source said.