Zach Lavine wants out. The Chicago Bulls want Zach Lavine out.
But apparently nobody wants Zach Lavine.
Okay, nobody might be an exaggeration, but the Zach market ain’t exactly turning out to be a Bull market, if you will. It’s so meh that the All-Knowing Woj referred to it as “barren.”
But that won’t stop Bulls fans from flooding the zone with trade suggestions—and I’m going to add to the flood (you’re welcome), a flood that will likely keep rising until the February 8 trade deadline’s last possible second.
(Note: All transactions have been approved by ESPN’s Trade Machine.)
SILLY LOPSIDED TRADE #1
Sacramento Kings receive
- Zach Lavine
- Patrick Williams
Chicago Bulls receive
- Keegan Murray
- Malik Monk
- Harrison Barnes
- Davion Mitchell
This is a matter of taking on a lousy contract as an enticement to land some quality young assets. (And Barnes’ deal, which runs through 2026, is really lousy.) Additionally, it solves the issue of whether or not the Bulls would (or should) pick up Williams’ option. As is the case with all four of these propositions, it’ll ding Chicago in the short-term, but they’ll ultimately win the trade. Which is why Sacto wouldn’t even consider it.
SILLY LOPSIDED TRADE #2
Detroit Pistons receive:
- Zach Lavine
Chicago Bulls receive:
- Jaden Ivey
- Ausar Thompson
- Joe Harris
Ivey is a hyper-kinetic guard who could thrive in a backcourt with Coby White, and Thompson might evolve into everything we hoped Patrick Williams would be. They’re both kids—Ivey is 21, while Thompson is 20—so the Pistons FO will justifiably bristle at moving on from their young legs…but since the Bulls would be freeing them from the final year of Harris’ garbage contract, it’s the least Detroit can do.
SILLY LOPSIDED TRADE #3
Los Angeles Lakers receive:
- Zach Lavine
- Jevon Carter
Chicago Bulls receive:
- Austin Reaves
- D’Angelo Russell
- Rui Hachimura
- Jalen Hood-Schifino
It’s understandable why the Lakers covet Reaves—despite having what some feel is an off season, he’s still pouring in 15 points a night on a squad with two usage rate monsters in LeBron James and Anthony Davis—thus the chances of them okaying this deal are slim. The Bulls bean counters, however, would (or should) be all over it. Reaves can slide right into the starting lineup, Russell brings them firepower off the bench, Hachimura gives them a potential replacement for Patrick Williams, and Hood-Schifino is an athletic 20-year-old with seeming potential. A nice haul for the Bulls, but just an okay haul for the Lake Show, which is why it’s a non-starter for L.A.
SILLY LOPSIDED TRADE #4
Charlotte Hornets receive:
- Zach Lavine
Chicago Bulls receive:
- Brandon Miller
- Gordon Hayward
- Mark Williams
Absurd metaphor warning: Chicago would be all over this deal like yellow mustard, chopped white onions, bright green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers and a dash of celery salt is all over a Wieners Circle hot dog…and why shouldn’t they be? Miller is quickly evolving into Paul George lite, Hayward, when healthy, is a legit contributor, and Williams has flashed the kind of potential that might make him a top-15 center. But if the Bulls’ brass floated this one to the Hornets decision-makers, they’d slam down the phone, even if Chicago included a wiener with the works.
