22.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 3.3 three-pointers per game. Zach LaVine is one of six players in the NBA clearing those benchmarks. Of the six players in the league to average the previously mentioned statistics, LaVine is the only one shooting above 43 percent from beyond the arc.
It's been quite the turnaround for the 29-year-old guard. LaVine only appeared in 25 games due to foot and ankle injuries a season ago. He averaged 19.5 points and shot 34.9 percent from downtown in the injury-ravaged season—his worst shooting season since 2017-18.
After a disappointing campaign for both LaVine and the Bulls, Chicago allowed two of its best players to walk in the offseason. Chicago swapped All-NBA defender Alex Caruso for 22-year-old Josh Giddey in late June. Then, weeks later, the Bulls sent DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade to the Sacramento Kings, only to receive Chris Duarte and draft capital in return.
Trading two veterans appeared to be the Bulls' start to a prolonged rebuild. However, LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, who's having a fantastic season in his own right, remain on the roster. Both players' names have been frequently mentioned as trade candidates for well over a year. But as the trade deadline nears, LaVine's list of suitors is non-existent.
Zach LaVine trade chatter is reportedly quiet
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, he's heard "nothing" about LaVine on the trade market. In an episode of The Hoop Collective, Windhorst acknowledged LaVine's place on the proverbial trade block before alluding to the athletic guard's trade market being obsolete.
Windhorst, who was joined by fellow ESPN colleagues Tim Bontemps and Tim McMahon, went on to say that it's not because the Bulls aren't trying to trade LaVine, but because of his bloated contract. LaVine is slated to earn $46 million next season and nearly $49 million in 2026-27 as a 31-year-old.
Bontemps added, "It's tough to trade a guy making 40 million dollars." Referencing the NBA's new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the trio discussed how it's almost impossible for players making lofty sums to be traded midseason. McMahon mentioned the Brooklyn Nets' forward Cameron Johnson as one of the best players he'd heard who could get dealt prior to the trade deadline. For reference, Johnson will earn $23.65 million this season.
Despite LaVine's impressive comeback season, his contract is a direct correlation to Chicago's lack of suitors. Instead of trading LaVine in-season, the Bulls might have to wait until the offseason or beyond to move on from their leading scorer and jumpstart the rebuild. For now, it's likely the Bulls prioritize trading Vucevic or a minimum-contract player for future draft picks and expiring contracts.