Zach LaVine Has No Market Interest
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Chicago Bulls franchise leader Zach LaVine is gaining no traction in the trade market by teams.
Woj went onto NBA Today to expand his knowledge of the current situation between teams and their willingness to trade for the veteran guard. To say the least, after the reports came out of both sides wanting a mutual separation, teams have been plodding on showing interest and potentially trading for him.
It’s been weeks since the reports came out and one of the main reasons teams are hesitant to trade for him is due to the money attached to his name. Woj added that Chicago has been trying to find deals, but nobody wants to commit to a player who’s been in and out of a lineup with injuries and is not going to be the number one option.
The worries have been there because teams, like the Lakers, would see LaVine as a third option – if in a trio with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The money makes it scarier and more difficult without a doubt.
Here is the full quote from Woj:
“There is not a market for Zach LaVine right now in the NBA,” said Adrian Wojnarowski on NBA Today. “That’s not because Chicago has not tried to find it and aren’t currently trying to find it.
“It’s a combination of a few reasons. LaVine’s contract at four more years at around a $45 million or $46 million a year average. But his productivity. I think this is a player right now who is out right now with a foot injury. He’s been in and out of the lineup. I think the question for teams is how much does Zach LaVine impact winning. Especially at that salary and with a new salary cap where you’re asking for yourself ‘Are you trading for him to be our best player? No. Our second-best player? No. If he’s our third-best player, do we want to pay that kind of money?’
“For the Bulls, they want to get some value in a trade. Right now, for both LaVine and the Bulls to get a trade, he needs to start playing well. He needs to start playing well and impacting winning. That certainly is what teams are going want to see as they look at the value of trying to do a trade for him.”
