The Chicago Bulls have looked into trading Zach LaVine at the last two trade deadlines without success due to various reasons.
Is it possible that a trade for another controversial, frequently injured All-Star is being considered?
“Brooklyn may be the perfect place for LaVine, a team that needs more scoring ability and is not motivated to intentionally perform poorly,” Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz wrote on February 29.
“If LaVine fully recovers from foot surgery and returns to his previous All-Star level, the 28-year-old could become the key scorer and playmaker for a Nets team already equipped with plenty of defensive talent. If there are concerns about LaVine's defensive contributions, having him on a starting lineup alongside Mikal Bridges and Nic Claxton could help address those concerns.”
Swartz offers a hypothetical trade plan that involves exchanging LaVine for Ben Simmons and draft picks.
Bulls get:
– Ben Simmons
– 2029 first-round pick (via DAL)
– 2026 second-round pick
– 2028 second-round pick
Nets get:
– Zach LaVine
Simmons, 27, was the top pick in the 2016 draft. He has been an All-Star three times and selected for the All-NBA team twice. He was the Rookie of the Year and also named to the All-Rookie team. Additionally, he led the league in steals during the 2019-20 season.
However, all of this occurred at least three seasons ago for Simmons. His 2021 season was completely wiped out due to a back injury.
. Last season, he played in 42 games, none after the All-Star break, due to a back injury.
Simmons has only participated in 15 games this season due to ongoing injury struggles. His playing performance has significantly declined. He is averaging 6.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game over the last two years.
The most attractive aspect of acquiring him is that he will enter the final year of his five-year, $177.2 million contract.
The Dallas Mavericks’ pick could be valuable considering the uncertainty around Luka Doncic.
Bulls Struggled to Find Trade for Zach LaVine
The Bulls management has faced difficulties no interest in trading LaVine to relieve salary burden, a concept that was widespread during the deadline. However, there was no progress on a deal for the two-time All-Star. Until that point, LaVine had been dealing with a foot injury in addition to underwhelming performance.
LaVine has now been ruled out for the season following foot surgery, which essentially ended any potential trade with the Detroit Pistons.
His five-year, $215.1 million contract only worsened the situation. LaVine is set to receive just under $138 million over the next three years, which includes a $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season.
Lonzo Ball Shows Progress in New Video
By following Swartz’s suggested hypothetical scenario, the Bulls could create a situation to eliminate over $60 million from their financial obligations after next season if they acquire Simmons. Lonzo Ball will be earning $20.5 million in the final year of a four-year, $80 million contract set to expire in 2025.
The Bulls have prepared the groundwork to remove Ball’s salary before that. However, this may not be necessary.
Following reports of growing concern regarding his recovery, Ball released a new workout video.
“He still can't make sudden movements,” the Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley posted on X, previously known as Twitter, on February 29. “I observed him taking jump shots when he was in Chicago. He looked very awkward. He still has a long recovery journey ahead of him.”
Cowley revealed the information about the Bulls’ worries that Ball had not started running under Head Coach Billy Donovan mentioned they had wished.
