NBA free agency began with rumors that there wasn’t much of a market for Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine. It appears those were rumors that were completely founded.
As the new NBA league year officially kicked, TNT’s Chris Haynes reported that the Bulls offered to trade LaVine to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins. The Warriors apparently wanted no part of LaVine — at least for that proposed deal — and pivoted to eventually waiving the veteran Paul.
Am I the only one who thinks that would’ve been a good trade for the Warriors? Oof. At any rate, tough break, Bulls:
Bulls offered Zach LaVine to Warriors for a trade package centered around Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins, per @ChrisBHaynes.
The Warriors declined.
(via B/R's NBA Free Agency Show) pic.twitter.com/5XDf2pEbFs
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 30, 2024
The Warriors are in the process of trying to revitalize the Steph Curry era. And I know LaVine’s skill set isn’t the most enticing for a team trying to compete for a championship, but I think he would’ve actually fit perfectly in the Bay Area. Unless Golden State has grander ambitions (Paul George?), declining a deal for LaVine that included a player it would wave anyway doesn’t make much sense.
From the rebuilding Bulls’ perspective, if they really can’t trade LaVine, they are locked into at least two more years of the scorer if he doesn’t exercise a player option two years from now. With the way free agency and the trade market are already unfolding, that would be a disaster for a team apparently trying to tear it all down. It would effectively put their hopeful rebuild on hold.
