© Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Bulls proposed Zach LaVine trade to the Cavaliers for Darius Garland
The Chicago Bulls have been so desperate to trade Zach LaVine that they've managed to initiate a peculiar trade proposal for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sources told Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports that the Bulls attempted to pitch a LaVine trade with the Cavs for Darius Garland. This has been one of many tries made by Chicago to ship away their All-Star.
“The Bulls are still searching for the type of haul that a multitime All-Star typically draws, which LaVine certainly is based on résumé: an established starter, plus a young player with upside and first-round draft capital, according to league sources. Chicago has also attempted to swap LaVine for other All-Star players, such as pitching Cleveland on acquiring Darius Garland from the Cavaliers, sources said.”
Strange proposal
It's truly bewildering that the Bulls have tapped the Cavs for a probable LaVine-Garland swap. There hasn't been any single report around the league that Cleveland has been surveying the market for a Garland trade partner.
The 23-year-old has been the franchise’s established point man of the future and is currently averaging 20.7 points, 5.9 assists, and 2.8 boards this season. In hindsight, acquiring Zach for Darius doesn't seem to make any sense for the Cavaliers, considering that their two-guard spot is already slotted by Donovan Mitchell.
The Cavs would also rather keep Garland, who stands younger, much needed to their system, and has a cheaper max contract over LaVine.
No market yet
Amid the fact that he has been the most frequent trade component of speculations throughout the Association, there seems to be no considerable market yet for Zach LaVine.
“According to a source Wednesday, with many of the players who signed contracts during the summer eligible to be traded starting Friday, executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas is finding no real market interest in Zach LaVine,” per Joe Cowley of Chicago Sun-Times.
LaVine remains inactive for the Bulls as he continues his foot soreness recovery through the upcoming weeks. He is averaging 21 points but shooting a career-worst 33.6 percent from three.
