Seven seasons after arriving at the Chicago Bulls as the focal point of the Jimmy Butler trade, Zach LaVine might be facing a departure from the Windy City. His playing time limited to only 25 games last season likely didn’t improve the chances of the two-time All-Star staying with the team.
However, LaVine’s contract appears to be the more significant concern.
It’s not that LaVine lacks talent; he excels as a versatile scorer across all three levels, demonstrating proficiency from beyond the arc to finishing at the rim. With a career scoring average of 20.5 PPG, he proves capable of being a valuable scoring option on almost any team. Yet, his inconsistent defensive effort poses a challenge, especially with his hefty $43 million cap hit in 2024.
It doesn’t get better from there. In 2025, LaVine is set to make $45.9 million, and in 2026, he has a $48.9 million player option. If he can return to All-Star status, he’ll opt out, but if he can’t, whatever team he’s on is stuck with a massive salary for a largely one-dimensional offensive talent.
Meanwhile, the Bulls continue to search for their franchise cornerstone who can carry the team deep into the playoffs. While LaVine has shown flashes of this capability, Chicago isn’t currently poised to add to their six NBA Championships anytime soon, especially with LaVine now 29 years old.
Chicago Bulls have tried to trade Zach LaVine 15 times
Somehow, the Bulls need to find a way to retool, and trading LaVine could be a good way to do it, yet, they’ve run into extreme difficulties unloading the bouncy guard.
This is the consequence of committing to large contract extensions for players, which is now affecting the Bulls’ future significantly.
Reports have indicated that the Bulls might have to accept considerably less value to move LaVine. While the specifics of the 15 trade proposals aren’t disclosed, it appears they are hesitant to part ways with LaVine at a reduced price, understandable given his considerable talent.
