The Chicago Bulls’ offseason could be mainly dependent on one decision.
There is mutual interest in re-signing DeMar DeRozan in free agency. Nikola Vucevic has signed for two more years. The lone player with significant trade value for the Bulls is two-time All-Star Zach LaVine
They attempted to unload LaVine during the last two seasons but were unsuccessful. His injury history (he only played 25 games this season) and high pay have been a barrier.
LaVine is owed approximately $140 million through 2026-27 on a five-year, $215.1 million contract.
“It might pain the Bulls’ brass to let go of LaVine and not get a draft pick in return, but if draft picks were available for the oft-injured and overpaid scorer, a deal surely would have been done by now,” Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report wrote on May 7. “This return isn’t much, but it does deliver three usable rotation players who are all on more reasonable contracts than LaVine.”
Buckley presents a potential trade that would send LaVine to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, and Jarred Vanderbilt.
The Bulls get:
Featuring D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, and Jarred Vanderbilt.
The Lakers get:
— Zach LaVine
“Even if the Bulls don’t plan on keeping all of them, each would be far easier to trade than LaVine is now,” said Buckley. “And if they do decide to blow up this roster, any of the three might help deliver assets for an overdue rebuild.
The Bulls are looking for two things in exchange for LaVine, but this return falls short.
Proposed Bulls-Lakers Trade Swaps are disappointing investments.
NBC Sports In June 2023, Chicago’s K.C. Johnson reported that the Bulls were looking for at least two different deals for LaVine in a potential trade.
“One league source said the Bulls would be focused on getting a good young player, multiple first-round picks and salary filler if they decide to trade LaVine,” Johnson stated. “Another said one first-round pick and an established, high-end player might be sufficiently intriguing.”
Vanderbilt, 25, is the youngest player in the hypothetical deal above.
In five seasons, he has already played for five different teams. He also has a well-defined skill set, which the Bulls lacked this season but might utilize in 2024-25.
Russell, 28, was one of the Lakers’ most consistent players this season. But his postseason yips returned for the second year in a row. He is also a prospective free agent, having a player option worth $18.7 million for next season.
Vincent was one of the Lakers’ key pickups last offseason.
He signed a three-year, $33 million contract during free agency. He was coming off a successful postseason and an appearance in the NBA Finals with the Miami Heat.
However, Vincent only appeared in 11 games throughout the regular season. He spent the majority of the season nursing a knee injury. When he returned, he was not the same guy the Lakers had seen in Miami. Vincent averaged 10.7% from deep during the regular season and 14.3% in the playoffs.
Salary-Dumping Zach LaVine Could Be the Bulls’ Best Option.
This package is not what the Bulls wanted. However, it could be their best alternative if Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas is committed to reform. The hypothetical bundle above would save approximately $3 million on the books next season.
LaVine will generate more than $43 million in 2024-25. Russell, Vanderbilt, and Vincent will cost approximately $40 million combined.
The only deals that extend beyond ’25-’26 are LaVine and Vanderbilt’s (four years, $48 million).
If the Bulls run the prospective new three with DeRozan, Vucevic, and Coby White, this trade would provide them with a shorter route to greater financial flexibility. It would also allow them more leeway under the luxury tax to make additional moves.
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