For the first time in more than three years, the Chicago Bulls got a player into the All-Star Game. This year, star 25-year-old shooting guard Zach LaVine will represent this Bulls team in the NBA All-Star Game, which will be the first time in his career he’s received these honors. LaVine is the first Bulls All-Star selection since their former star shooting guard/small forward Jimmy Butler got the nod back in 2017.
The search to find a true star eluded this Bulls rebuild in its first three years. But the reshaping of the front office and coaching staff last offseason has helped to elevate LaVine’s game, along with the supporting cast around him.
First-year executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley might not be done shaping this roster ahead of the trade deadline, though. Giving LaVine a running mate that’s another true star that could move this team further, and get the rebuild ahead of schedule, does sound like a good way to approach the trade deadline.
But it won’t be as easy as shifting a couple of pieces around to get another true star for LaVine as a running mate. Karnisovas and Eversley would have to get crafty, and maybe even have to get another team involved, if they wanted to get another star in the mix this year.
As the March 25 trade deadline approaches within the month, the Bulls are in a difficult spot where it’s hard to tell if they will be buyers or sellers at the deadline. Nonetheless, here’s a look into three 2021 All-Stars that the Bulls could target to give LaVine a running mate ahead of the deadline.