It's no secret that the Chicago Bulls have been searching for trade partners for veteran guard Zach LaVine and center Nikola Vucevic as the franchise begins to settle into rebuild mode.
Chicago has appeared hesitant to dive headfirst into that pool, though, making curious decisions like handing forward Patrick Williams a $90 million contract extension last offseason despite injury concerns and his lack of development.
That all could mercifully be changing, according to recent reports.
Lonzo Ball added to list of available Bulls trade chips
Despite playing in only four games so far this season (as of Nov. 29), veteran guard Lonzo Ball is also reportedly being shopped, according to The Stein Line contributor Jake Fischer:
"Chicago entered Thanksgiving at 8-12, tied with Detroit for the league's eighth-worst record. That's already dangerous territory for the Bulls, whose 2025 first-round selection must be conveyed to San Antonio if it falls outside the top 10 after the draft lottery is conducted in May.Jake Fischer
No surprise, then, that Bulls executives, according to league sources, have been messaging to rival front offices that they are willing to discuss the majority of their roster in trade talks leading up to the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Most notably, sources say, Chicago has expressed a desire to move LaVine, Vučević and Ball — who collectively command nearly $85 million in salary this season."
Fischer drops a few more nuggets Bulls fans should love to hear, like the franchise's decision to refuse several second-round picks from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Andre Drummond ... to let Drummond walk in free agency and sign with, guess who, the 76ers.
The Bleacher Report NBA insider added that rival teams will ask for former first-round pick Dalen Terry or rising wing Julian Phillips to be included as part of any trade package involving LaVine.
Vucevic's lesser salary makes him a more palatable option, but the price for the 34-year-old center appears to be a few second-round picks at best.
Bittersweet news for Chicago fans: The franchise might finally be ready to enter a full-scale rebuild, but it could be too late, and the Bulls may be forced to accept pennies on the dollar if they hope to shed any salary, even with LaVine and Vucevic having productive seasons.