Philadelphia 76ers could answer the call if the Chicago Bulls make Zach LaVine available

The 76ers could be a willing trade partner if the Bulls make Zach LaVine available.

© Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

With the way things are going early in the Chicago Bulls' offseason, it appears the team will bring back their "Big 3" of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic, much to the chagrin of countless fans. After all, this is the same core that played together for most of the season and still couldn't bring the Bulls back to the playoffs.

However, Bulls executive Arturas Karnisovas has asserted he is not going to blow the roster up. In the event he changes his mind, perhaps the first call he should make is to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Willing partner

The 76ers just might lose superstar wingman James Harden this offseason as the former league MVP is reportedly leaning towards returning to the Houston Rockets. Should that happen, it would be disastrous for a Sixers squad looking to make a deep playoff run next season after falling in the Eastern Conference semifinals. This is where a nifty scorer like LaVine could help.

"Fans and analysts alike have seemingly always loved to list the 76ers as a possible landing spot for LaVine," wrote Elias Schuster of Bleacher Nation. "The reason for that is likely his straightforward fit alongside a powerful big man in Joel Embiid."

An explosive offense

A partnership between reigning league MVP Joel Embiid and LaVine would create an explosive offense that the Sixers haven't seen since Allen Iverson's heyday. LaVine's ability to score from all three levels (the paint, mid-range, and the perimeter) would be a perfect complement to Embiid's mainly post-up style of play. He could also serve as a capable ball-handler and playmaker in certain situations, which would take the pressure off of Embiid.

For the Bulls, a deal would most likely involve the Sixers' young, talented guard Tyrese Maxey, who, at 22 years old, averaged over 20 points this season. This would give the Bulls the point guard they've wanted and needed for years to pair with their core of Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan.