The Chicago Bulls have little wiggle room to improve this offseason, especially if they decide to bring back DeMar DeRozan.
Their only chance to clear some cap space might be to let DeRozan walk or trade Zach LaVine while taking back lesser contracts from a team that has cap space to burn.
Given those parameters, it will be tricky but not impossible to move Zach LaVine in a trade, and the Bulls may even be able to get a useful player.
A recent article in Bleacher Report named the Orlando Magic as one of the best possible landing spots for Zach LaVine, which does make sense, as they need scoring, LaVine can score, and the Magic have the defenders to cover up the fact that LaVine can’t guard anyone.
They also have some cap space to use and not many targets to use it on, so could the Bulls work out a deal with Orlando that doesn’t involve just giving LaVine away?
The value of Zach LaVine to the Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are in a tough spot, as LaVine is a good player when healthy, but does have an albatross of a contract that most teams would stay a mile away from, especially if it cost them assets.
This is going to drive down LaVine’s price, so depending on which direction they go this summer, the Bulls could be better off just keeping LaVine and seeing if he can stay healthy, build value for a future trade and help the team win a few games in the process.
LaVine, even with his horrible contract, has more value to the Bulls than he may have on the trade market, so there is an argument they should just keep him and hope for the best rather than give him away for nothing.
But what if the Bulls could get a decent player at a position of need?
Here’s a possible trade that jettisons LaVine’s contract but gets something in return.
Chicago Bulls rumors: Trade of Zach LaVine to the Orlando Magic
The Magic have a logjam of big men and could use more scoring and shooting on the perimeter. They had just the 22nd-ranked offense this season to go along with the league’s 2nd ranked defense, so it’s clear where they need to improve.
Here’s a trade that gets Orlando some scoring without giving up any of their top trade assets.
In this trade, the Bulls bring back Wendell Carter Jr, veteran Joe Ingles and a second-round pick in exchange for LaVine.
The Magic would have to opt into the team option they have for Ingles, who did appear in 68 games this season but did not have a big role. The Bulls would be on the hook for one year of Ingles at $11 million.
Carter Jr saw his role and numbers diminish this season, but still put up 11 points and seven rebounds per game.
I have doubts whether the Magic would move Carter Jr in such a deal given LaVine’s health status, but if they wanted LaVine’s scoring punch, these two contracts (or Jonathan Isaac) would be required to do it.
If healthy, the Magic would be getting a steal here and they do have a short window before all of their young guys get raises, but what about the Bulls?
Is this trade worth it for the Chicago Bulls?
The Bulls do need depth and defense at the center position and Carter Jr can provide both either as a starter or coming off the bench. He’s still relatively young at 25 years old and is on a value contract that goes down from $11.9 to 10 million over the next two seasons.
So, the Bulls would be getting a rotation player at a position of need while cutting a ton of future payroll from the LaVine deal and freeing up around $20 million in cap space right away. This seems like a no-brainer for Chicago, who might be better with this deal even if they did nothing more but keep everyone they have.
LaVine is the best player in this deal, but when you can’t count on him to play, taking back a lesser player and cap relief may be the best option.
This isn’t going to be an easy call for the Bulls, who are never going to get full value for LaVine and will have to decide how much is too little.