Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Bulls’ Zach LaVine To Spurs

One NBA analyst proposed that the San Antonio Spurs acquire Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls. 

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Spurs, Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns:

Los Angeles Clippers Receive: SG Bradley Beal, 2031 first-round pick (unprotected via Phoenix Suns), 2025 second-round pick (via Sacramento Kings), 2028 second-round pick (via Chicago Bulls)

San Antonio Spurs Receive: G/F Zach LaVine, 2029 first-round pick (unprotected via Chicago Bulls)

Phoenix Suns Receive: SG Norman Powell, F/C Zach Collins, F/C P.J. Tucker

Chicago Bulls Receive: F Keldon Johnson, G/F Terance Mann, G Bones Hyland, SG Amir Coffey

LaVine played in only 25 games last season. He underwent season-ending right foot surgery in February.

A two-time All-Star and a two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion, LaVine averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks 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. The shooting guard will make $43 million next season. 

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

The Bulls have been trying to trade LaVine for over a year. LaVine wants out of Chicago too. 

According to NBA reporter Jamal Collier of ESPN, LaVine has felt “singled out” in Bulls film sessions. 

“LaVine has also felt singled out during film sessions and feels like he has taken too much blame for the team’s losing during his tenure — which has produced one playoff appearance in seven years — despite other roster failings, sources told ESPN,” Collier reported. 

LaVine played for Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich on the 2020 Olympic Team, which won a gold medal.

Maybe Popovich can get the best out of LaVine. 

“LaVine’s stock is low right now, although a reunion with Popovich, his coach on the 2020 Olympic team that won a gold medal, would bring out the best in the two-time All-Star,” Swartz wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “The 29-year-old has averaged 24.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and shot 38.9 percent from three over the last four seasons. Any defensive concerns surrounding LaVine would help be negated by sharing the floor with Victor Wembanyama, perhaps the greatest defensive prospect we’ve ever seen.”