Tier 1: Hands off, these players are untouchable
- Zach LaVine
- Patrick Williams
- Jevon Carter
- Andre Drummond
- Julian Phillips
Now, before you say it, I already know what you’re thinking:
“I see Zach LaVine involved in trade rumors at least twice a year, how can he possibly be untouchable?”
That’s the irony of the situation though, isn’t it? LaVine keeps popping up in trade rumors, and yet, he doesn’t get traded. This can only lead us to believe that the asking price for Zach is simply too high for any contender to deem it a worthy cost to pay, thus making him essentially untouchable. Fortunately, I’m not just taking a wild guess here, as The Athletic’s Fred Katz (subscription required) all but confirmed my theory last week.
"“New York made contact with the Chicago Bulls about their shooting guard, Zach LaVine, but the asking price for the two-time All-Star was “giant,” as one league source told The Athletic, which is exactly why LaVine remains in Chicago. The Knicks and Bulls, according to league sources, never got close.”"
Due to a lack of playoff success, I simply don’t think other teams value LaVine at the same level the Bulls do, even though Zach has been statistically more productive than several of the league’s premiere ‘superstar’ players over the last three seasons. This discrepancy in perceived value is another reason why I doubt Patrick Williams will hit the trade block any time soon.
As for Jevon Carter and Andre Drummond, each of these players fulfills a need that no one else on the roster can contribute right now. I just don’t see either of them getting traded this season, it would be nonsensical. And then there’s Julian Phillips, a rookie Chicago expended two future second-round picks for; I think it’s obvious the Bulls will want to see how Phillips pans out before making any more drastic moves.