The 2023 NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and the Chicago Bulls have done nothing, unsurprisingly.
While nearly the rest of the league made moves before the deadline, the Bulls chose to stand pat. When you consider they were one of the only franchises to not make a move, it’s actually more infuriating than anything.
For a team that appears stuck in limbo, hardly hanging onto playoff positioning and having signed their head coach to an extension, it seems like either something drastic has to change or the Bulls are going to be gluttons for mediocrity for the foreseeable future.
That drastic change? It very well could be a Zach LaVine trade.
Before the deadline passed, there was some steam to a LaVine rumor that had him heading to the New York Knicks. However, that deal never went through. Now, a recent report from Chicago sports insider David Kaplan on ESPN’s Kap & J. Hood, has the Bulls’ star guard at a breaking point with his head coach.
Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan and guard Zach LaVine’s relationship has “sailed,” according to David Kaplan
Back on November 18, Bulls fans will remember the infamous decision of Donovan keeping LaVine on the bench in a loss to the Orlando Magic. Obviously, LaVine wasn’t happy after the game.
But the fact of the matter was, he was having a horrendous night. And, up to that point, he was having a horrendous season altogether. He didn’t look like himself. He wasn’t playing with the aggression and assertiveness he needed to be playing with.
Since then, the relationship between the two has of course never been the same, despite both sides saying they’re “fine,” and whatnot.
With this report surfacing, there is no way the Bulls can keep LaVine past the summer. Quite honestly, they shouldn’t.
LaVine might be a good player, but he’s not 5-years, $215 million good. Those are the facts.
If another team wants to pick up that contract and deal a couple of first-round picks to the Bulls, that’s a deal you cannot afford to say “no” to if you’re Arturas Karnisovas. LaVine is as good as gone. Mark it down. This is his last season in Chicago.