Former two-time Chicago Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine seems headed for a divorce from his longtime franchise… if that franchise can ever find a trade that suits him.
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According to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, LaVine’s agent at Klutch Sports, Rich Paul, had high praise for the 6-foot-5 UCLA product’s comportment amid all this trade chatter.
“I want to make this clean and clear: This whole idea that Zach has been anything but professional in this situation is false,” Paul told Johnson during a phone interview. “This guy has played hurt. He has represented the franchise with class. A lot has taken place during his time with the Bulls and he’s taken the high road every time. Does every player get frustrated at times? Yes. But Zach has been the ultimate professional and deserves better. The Bulls have business to do. And we’re letting them handle their business.”
Per Johnson, Chicago has pitched more than 15 LaVine-centric trades this offseason to several clubs. The Pacific Division’s two Northern California squads, the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors (who finished as the Nos. 9 and 10 seeds last year and missed the playoffs) have been the most intrigued candidates for the veteran swingman’s services.
Golden State, at least, seems to have pivoted, having signed three cheaper wings in undersized shooting guard De’Anthony Melton (inked to a $12.8 million, one year taxpayer mid-level exception deal), sharpshooting wing Buddy Hield (who signed a four-season, $37.4 million deal to join the team via a sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, though only $21 million of that deal is fully guaranteed), and “Slow-Mo” combo forward Kyle Anderson (who agreed to a three-year, $27 million sign-and-trade with Golden State through his old club, the Minnesota Timberwolves).
The Kings make plenty of sense as a possible target to take on the final three seasons and $138 million remaining on his contract with the club, a prohibitively pricey sum for an injury-prone, one-way guard who probably could be the third-best piece on a high-level contender. A season after finishing as the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and barely losing a seven-game nail biter first round series against the Warriors, the 2024 vintage of Sacramento fell to earth in a crowded West.
Despite fielding a talented, offense-first roster led by All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox and All-Star center Domantas Sabonis (neither of whom made the All-Star team this season), the Kings regressed to a good-but-not-great 46-36 record and fell to the New Orleans Pelicans in their second Play-In Tournament game. The team could use a talented three-level scorer of LaVine’s ilk, although he would hardly help shore up their lackluster wing defense.
LaVine, 28, has dealt with multiple major lower body surgeries during his decade-long pro career. This past season, he underwent a foot surgery, which ultimately cost him all but 25 contests. When he did play, he was his typical prolific self, though his numbers did take a bit of a dip. Still, he averaged 19.5 points on a .452/.349/.854 slash line, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per contest.
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