Grade the Trade: Knicks take a shot at landing LaVine from Bulls

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 14: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket against Quentin Grimes #6 of the New York Knicks during the second half at United Center on December 14, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks. Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images /

What would Knicks’ best shot for Bulls’ LaVine look like?

The New York Knicks held back their assets this summer and saw Donovan Mitchell go to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he is dropping 71 points and looking like an MVP candidate. That could grease the wheels for them to be more aggressive in making an offer to the Chicago Bulls for Zach LaVine.

This trade has a lot of moving parts, but that’s mostly because the Knicks have good young players who make small salaries and salary flotsam that isn’t very valuable, so they have to send a flotilla of players to make a deal work. In this construction, the Bulls send LaVine and Coby White to add a trio of young players in Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin, and Immanuel Quickley, not to mention old friend Derrick Rose.

The Knicks would do this trade because of the lineup it puts together in New York. They could start Jalen Brunson, Zach LaVine, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson. They have been loath to give up Quentin Grimes, but since Barrett’s contract extension makes him difficult to be traded Grimes almost has to be a part of the trade.

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