The Chicago Bulls traded Alex Caruso on Thursday, and now they are intensifying efforts to trade away another of their star guards, according to reports.
NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson wrote on Thursday that the Bulls have offered Zach LaVine in several trade offers to various teams.
“Sources said (Bulls executive Artūras) Karnišovas has floated as many as 15 proposals centered on the two-time All-Star guard to various teams including the Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t take a capologist to figure out the Bulls can’t add a first-round pick and re-sign DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams … without entering the luxury tax unless an extremely advantageous salary cap trade of LaVine occurs.”
Karnišovas has already expressed his desire to re-sign DeRozan and Williams, which must mean that Chicago is working hard to find a trade partner for LaVine. Johnson’s report certainly supports such a notion.
LaVine is among the NBA’s most explosive guards, but Chicago might struggle to establish preferable trade leverage as they discuss LaVine with the rest of the league. Many teams are hesitant to add LaVine’s contract to their books, given his injury history.
LaVine is owed $138M over the next three years of his deal.
He averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game in 25 games for the Bulls in 2023-24 before undergoing season-ending foot surgery in February.
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