The trade discussions are starting to heat up around the NBA as the deadline draws much closer at this point of the regular season slate. And the Chicago Bulls are very likely to be one of the team that sits firmly in the midst of trade discussions at this point of the season, since they can still contend for a lower tier playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Two of the hottest names on the trade market for the Bulls ahead of the deadline are fourth-year power forward Lauri Markkanen and star shooting guard Zach LaVine. But it’s the latter of those two standout Bulls players that is circulating around various trade rumors at this moment.
On The Jump with ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst and Rachel Nichols on the morning of Feb. 4, LaVine’s name was brought up again in potential trade discussions. LaVine’s name was mentioned on the trade market for other executives around the league along with the Washington Wizards star guard Bradley Beal.
https://twitter.com/NBATheJump/status/1357435177421725699
It was actually Beal’s name that was the most hotly debated name on the trade market on this day’s version of The Jump. LaVine’s name was brought up as a potential backup for any team that might not be able to get anything done ahead of the deadline for Beal this season.
What the Chicago Bulls star brings to the table
Any team that is looking to get a star scoring guard by way of the trade block could do well by getting either LaVine or Beal. These two are very likely to be All-Star selections this season with the way they’re playing of late.
Beal is having another career year, as is LaVine for the Bulls. The former of those two is averaging a career-best and league-leading 34.8 points per game, 5.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks. And he’s shot an efficient 48.5 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 87.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Meanwhile, LaVine is having another career year for the Bulls too. He’s averaging 26.5 points per game, 5.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 blocks. LaVine shot 50.8 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 88.6 percent from the free-throw line.
Stronger efforts on the defensive end of the floor from both Beal and LaVine has complemented their games nicely too. Each is deserving of an NBA All-Star selection from what we’ve seen from them this season. It would be the first career All-Star selection for LaVine, and the third for Beal.
LaVine and the Bulls now hold a record of 8-12 following their tough Feb. 3 home loss at the United Center to the New York Knicks, by the final score of 107-103. They next face the Orlando Magic on the road on Feb. 5, with tip off time set for 6 p.m. CT.