With rumors about the Knicks and Nets monitoring the availability of Zach LaVine, it is logical to wonder what his trade value would be in a potential deal.
Allow me to make myself clear: I do not believe that trading Zach LaVine at this time is a wise idea for a plethora of reasons. Rather, the purpose of this article is more to give fans an idea of what Zach’s value in a trade may look like. Unfortunately for the Chicago Bulls, the harsh reality of the situation is that LaVine would probably not yield as much as one would think.
LaVine has put up phenomenal numbers in Chicago and has probably deserved to be an All-Star the past two seasons, but the lack of wins and recognition league-wide will limit how much Arturas Karnisovas can get back for the Bulls’ best player.
Among the teams reportedly interested in LaVine include the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks, who are on incredibly different timelines and have much different assets and packages to offer the Bulls.
The Knicks have some good pieces in place to make a move for a star or to be patient with their young talent and allow them to develop, whereas the Nets are looking for a third elite player to add to the mix of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in hopes of winning a title in the next three seasons.
This slideshow will take fans through three possible trade scenarios for LaVine: one with the Knicks, one with the Nets, and one with a surprise third team that could emerge as a suitor for the Bulls’ star. Each deal would presumably take place after the 2020 NBA Playoffs, with salaries matching and within the bounds of the cap. Additionally, all trades will be followed by a brief synopsis as to how the deal helps the Bulls and the corresponding team.