One Hypothetical Trade Offer to Net Jazz Zach LaVine Amid Rumors
With traction recently gaining around the potential trade surrounding 2x All-Star Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls, there stand several teams that could look to get involved in these mid-season discussions at the right price. We’ve already seen names like the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, and most recently the Sacramento Kings being mentioned as potential suitors early in the process.
LaVine provides a nice role as an offensive piece and all-around scorer and could be utilized by many units around the league. He's started this year a bit slower than we’ve seen in years past, averaging 21.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists through 15 games. It may just take a change in scenery to see the 28-year-old back to form like we saw only a season ago.
Knowing the track history with Danny Ainge, it would not be a shock to see the Utah Jazz find their way into these talks. They have a few contracts on the books that could complement LaVine’s $40+ million annually and a collection of draft capital in which they could sprinkle into a potential deal.
Here’s what a potential package to send LaVine to Utah could look like:
Utah Jazz receive: G Zach LaVine
Chicago Bulls receive: G Collin Sexton, G Talen Horton-Tucker, F Kelly Olynyk, Minnesota Timberwolves 2029 first-round pick (protected 1-5)
In this trade, the Jazz give up two expiring contracts in Horton-Tucker, and Olynyk, an impact player on a longer deal in Sexton, along with a lightly protected future first to acquire LaVine.
It doesn’t strip Utah of too much depth or picks but still gives Chicago some worthwhile talent to make it worth sending off a player like LaVine. It resembles a little of what we saw in the league's most recent trade, sending James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers: some role players with a valued first a few years down the line.
The fit of LaVine on this current Jazz roster looks a bit murky when you consider contract implications and the long-term timeline, but a cheaper package like this makes the acquisition a bit more appealing.
Bringing in LaVine would pair him with former Chicago teammate Lauri Markkanen (and Kris Dunn) and effectively create one of the more exciting offensive tandems in the league. We never quite saw this duo play together while Markkanen was at his All-Star level, so seeing it take place today would likely lead to a ton of buckets scored in Salt Lake City.
However, without any concrete developments linking Utah and Chicago, or really any other team, we remain in the hopeful speculation stages of this trade process. Given that it’s still just over a month into the new NBA season and teams staying conservative with their roster, it would not be a shock to see this drag into the trade deadline.
Have no fear, though. If the right deal comes across Danny Ainge’s desk between now and February, he won’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
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