As the 2024-25 season grows closer, the situation between the Chicago Bulls and Zach LaVine has still not been resolved. During a messy 2023-24 season that saw LaVine say he was open to a trade, the Bulls were not able to find a taker for the two-time All-Star, and saw a better performance from the team while he was out.
With the Bulls heading into a rebuild, LaVine remaining a part of the roster is the one thing holding the team back from fully embracing it. Rumors have linked LaVine to numerous teams over the course of 2024 including the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and Detroit Pistons.
LaVine's trade value has plummeted since an injury shortened his season to the point that the Bulls may have to pay to give him away.
Will the Chicago Bulls pay to get rid of Zach LaVine in a trade?
LaVine has three years and over $136 million left on his salary, numbers teams will be reluctant to take on given his recent injury history.
To trade LaVine now, the Bulls would almost certainly have to kick in an asset or take on an equally-bad contract, which is what happens in this recent trade proposal.