Bloated contracts all too often sway the perception of players around the league. For instance, Chicago Bulls' leading scorer and two-time All-Star Zach LaVine was deemed untradable entering the 2024-25 season. Despite the 29-year-old's stellar statistics, the slogan stuck with LaVine as this season progressed.
While LaVine may have finally shaken the untradable label, teams remain hesitant to take on such an exorbitant contract, no matter how well he plays. LaVine's average of 24.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.2 three-pointers per game doesn't do enough to distract suitors from his three years and $138 million remaining on his contract.
Another prime example on the Bulls is Nikola Vucevic. The 34-year-old center is enjoying a resurgent campaign, averaging 20.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.9 three-pointers per contest. Meanwhile, NBA Insiders have named Washington Wizards big man Jonas Valanciunas as the more appealing trade candidate.
In comparison, the 32-year-old Valanciunas averages 11.7 points, 8.2 boards, 2.2 assists, and 0.1 threes per contest. Vooch has even proven to be a stingier defender, forcing his opponents' field goal percentage to drop by 1.2 percentage points when he's the closest defender. Conversely, Valanciunas' opposition shoots 2.5 percent better.
Why is a slightly younger, less impactful, non-shooting big more valuable, you might ask? His contract. Vucevic is slated to earn $41 million this season and next, while Valanciunas is on the books for three years and $30 million, including a non-guaranteed $10 million in the final season of his contract.
The Bulls must avoid acquiring Bradley Beal at all costs
The NBA's new Collective Bargaining Agreement has gravely affected several players' trade values. LaVine and Vucevic are prime examples, but one player not on the Bulls has seen his value plummet notwithstanding his somewhat effective play. Bradley Beal, commonly linked to Chicago, has one of the worst contracts in all of basketball. The 31-year-old is two and a half seasons through the five-year, $251 million pact, including a no-trade clause, he signed in July of 2022.
NBA Insider Jake Fischer recently mentioned the Bulls as a team that could facilitate a Beal trade using LaVine's contract. For what it's worth, a Beal for LaVine swap works financially. However, acquiring the former Washington Wizard would seriously cripple Chicago's future.
At this point, LaVine is head and shoulders above Beal. The 6-foot-4 guard averages 17.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game for the Suns this season. While his efficiency is above average, he doesn't provide much outside of scoring. Beal's rebound and assist numbers are their lowest in almost a decade. He's never been a truly impactful defender, but this season is worse than usual. The Suns are nearly six points per 100 possessions worse defensively with Beal on the court.
After beginning the season 8-1, Phoenix struggled mightily over the next two months, eventually replacing Beal in the starting lineup with rookie Ryan Dunn. Since his removal from the opening unit, pundits have thrown around trade ideas for Beal. From the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat, numerous teams have been linked to Beal, specifically those rostering a player earning a large sum, such as Khris Middleton in Milwaukee and Jimmy Butler in Miami.
Nevertheless, the Bulls are continuously brought up as a team that could acquire Beal—either as a third party or as the sole trade partner, acquiring Beal and draft capital for LaVine. The salary makes sense, but nothing else does. Beal is two years older than LaVine and owed more than $20 million over the next three seasons.
LaVine's contract is already burdensome. Swapping the two-time All-Star for a recently benched, older, arguably more injury-prone guard would be nonsensical. Regardless of what shoddy draft compensation Phoenix offers the Bulls in exchange for LaVine, the offer should be adamantly denied.