Potential Zach Trade Partners? 24/25 Edition

[Red8911]

Wilbon has been recently telling Chicago local media, with little filter, that Zach was all-but-traded to Detroit during the TDL but Zachy and Klutch caught wind of it and elected for surgery instead of going to Detroit. F U Zach

Fournier, Stewart and a FRP still works for Lavine even with his trade kicker. Lavine relegated to Detroit would be a funny thing to watch

I've always called BS on this rumor based on this rationale.

One of these stories is more or less true and the other is wrong:

1: Zach LaVine was hurt, tried to come back, couldn't go, was out again, then went and got a surgery to repair the issue.

2: Zach faked an injury, then came back for no reason only to fake it again, then found a doctor to do an unnecessary surgery causing a 4+ month rehab so that he could avoid a trade to Detroit that could have also been avoided by simply sending his medicals to Detroit and saying "I don't want to be here, and if you trade for me, I'm going to get this surgery".

People do really dumb things all the time, but this is such a weird conspiracy theory. Best you can argue is he would have played through and put off surgery for the Lakers but not the Pistons, but so what? Most players won't put off a surgery for a team aiming to finish last.

The timing was just odd. Then add the fact that he and Rich Paul announced it not the Bulls which made it even more suspect. Did the bulls even know he’s getting surgery before he made the announcement or was that news to them ?

IMO he actually did have an injury but the surgery was optional or he could have held it off for during the off season.

He and Paul saw that the bulls are ready to trade him to Detroit. Zach didn’t want to go there, so chose to get the surgery rather than later,ended his season and killed the trade.

He also had a baby on the way so he definitely wanted to be in LA anyway. So that’s what he did he was in LA the whole time “rehabbing”. Bulls paid him 40 million to chill in his LA mansion lol.

I'll never understand why teams don’t make injured players still show up to work when they are hurt long term. They should still be around the team. Zach and Lonzo only showed up on the bench during the LA games which is ridiculous.

[Muzbar]

Wilbon has been recently telling Chicago local media, with little filter, that Zach was all-but-traded to Detroit during the TDL but Zachy and Klutch caught wind of it and elected for surgery instead of going to Detroit. F U Zach

Fournier, Stewart and a FRP still works for Lavine even with his trade kicker. Lavine relegated to Detroit would be a funny thing to watch

Detroit got Tim Hardaway Jr. so you can cross them off for LaVine.

Maybe not, THJ gives them another salary to match LaVines contract, although they'd have to wait 3 months before they can trade THJ again I think.

[WindyCityBorn]

Wilbon has been recently telling Chicago local media, with little filter, that Zach was all-but-traded to Detroit during the TDL but Zachy and Klutch caught wind of it and elected for surgery instead of going to Detroit. F U Zach

Fournier, Stewart and a FRP still works for Lavine even with his trade kicker. Lavine relegated to Detroit would be a funny thing to watch

Detroit got Tim Hardaway Jr. so you can cross them off for LaVine.

Maybe not, THJ gives them another salary to match LaVines contract, although they'd have to wait 3 months before they can trade THJ again I think.

They didn’t need match. They could just absorb his contract. If Zach is still here 3 months from now he’ll likely start the season a Bull.

[Muzbar]

Detroit got Tim Hardaway Jr. so you can cross them off for LaVine.

Maybe not, THJ gives them another salary to match LaVines contract, although they'd have to wait 3 months before they can trade THJ again I think.

They didn’t need match. They could just absorb his contract. If Zach is still here 3 months from now he’ll likely start the season a Bull.

I'm aware they didn't (and still don't) need to match but why not match salary as much as you can and preserve cap.

Plus they can use THJ to trade for Zach now, they just can't add players with him currently.

[boozapalooza]

Wilbon has been recently telling Chicago local media, with little filter, that Zach was all-but-traded to Detroit during the TDL but Zachy and Klutch caught wind of it and elected for surgery instead of going to Detroit. F U Zach

Fournier, Stewart and a FRP still works for Lavine even with his trade kicker. Lavine relegated to Detroit would be a funny thing to watch

I've always called BS on this rumor based on this rationale.

One of these stories is more or less true and the other is wrong:

1: Zach LaVine was hurt, tried to come back, couldn't go, was out again, then went and got a surgery to repair the issue.

2: Zach faked an injury, then came back for no reason only to fake it again, then found a doctor to do an unnecessary surgery causing a 4+ month rehab so that he could avoid a trade to Detroit that could have also been avoided by simply sending his medicals to Detroit and saying "I don't want to be here, and if you trade for me, I'm going to get this surgery".

People do really dumb things all the time, but this is such a weird conspiracy theory. Best you can argue is he would have played through and put off surgery for the Lakers but not the Pistons, but so what? Most players won't put off a surgery for a team aiming to finish last.

The timing was just odd. Then add the fact that he and Rich Paul announced it not the Bulls which made it even more suspect. Did the bulls even know he’s getting surgery before he made the announcement or was that news to them ?

IMO he actually did have an injury but the surgery was optional or he could have held it off for during the off season.

He and Paul saw that the bulls are ready to trade him to Detroit. Zach didn’t want to go there, so chose to get the surgery rather than later,ended his season and killed the trade.

He also had a baby on the way so he definitely wanted to be in LA anyway. So that’s what he did he was in LA the whole time “rehabbing”. Bulls paid him 40 million to chill in his LA mansion lol.

I'll never understand why teams don’t make injured players still show up to work when they are hurt long term. They should still be around the team. Zach and Lonzo only showed up on the bench during the LA games which is ridiculous.

A friend of mine is a beat writer for the org. Spends a fair amount of time around the team. I’m not close enough with him to get scoops, nor does he have many, but he did tell me last week Zach is very well liked by teammates and around the org, generally he is a very good guy. Faking an injury to block a trade does not seem like his nature nor would he maintain his solid reputation around the team if that happened. I even asked if he has issues with Billy, he said that was overblown, just that Zach’s defense is viewed as a big negative (no surprise there)

[amcfad27]

If Klay goes to Dallas maybe zach for CPs expiring/partial guarantee + filler

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[Hangtime84]

Wilbon has been recently telling Chicago local media, with little filter, that Zach was all-but-traded to Detroit during the TDL but Zachy and Klutch caught wind of it and elected for surgery instead of going to Detroit. F U Zach

Fournier, Stewart and a FRP still works for Lavine even with his trade kicker. Lavine relegated to Detroit would be a funny thing to watch

Stacey King mentioned that as well on his podcast. Injury was legit tho he could have played through it but nah

[Evil_Headband]

D’Angelo Russell is opting in to his last year of his contract. Although I wouldn’t expect the Lakers to be interested in Zach now, maybe in a pump and dump scenario if the Lakers underperform early again. A Russell expiring helps with salaries.

[dougthonus]

There's an option 3. He would always need surgery, but could have possibly played through the injury and postponed the surgery for the off-season. I don't think he had an unnecessary surgery, but it wouldn't shock me if he moved it up to scare Detroit away. Pippen postponed his surgery out of spite for the organization, so it's not exactly an unheard-of move.

Sure, but that's a so-what moment to me. No player is playing through an injury that requires surgery for a non-playoff team and especially one that is the worst in the league. For the Pistons, you'd have to think if they were acquiring Zach it wasn't to make a playoff push or anything as they were in last and would be more about next year anyway.

All that said, Detroit has a new regime now, so revisiting the trade with Fournier may not be an option.

Agree this is true.

[dougthonus]

The timing was just odd. Then add the fact that he and Rich Paul announced it not the Bulls which made it even more suspect. Did the bulls even know he’s getting surgery before he made the announcement or was that news to them ?

Who knows, but this is separate than doing it just to avoid the trade.

IMO he actually did have an injury but the surgery was optional or he could have held it off for during the off season.

No one gets surgery if they don't feel it is the best path forward, so we can ignore the "optional" part. It was deemed the best option or he wouldn't have done it.

Sure, he could have possibly held it off, but why? The Bulls weren't playing him and looked like a lottery team and if there are thoughts of going to Detroit who is also a lottery team, why would he delay it for them? Players don't delay the best course of medical treatment for lottery teams as a general rule.

He and Paul saw that the bulls are ready to trade him to Detroit. Zach didn’t want to go there, so chose to get the surgery rather than later,ended his season and killed the trade.

If he was going to get the surgery then yes, sure as hell he wasn't going to put it off to play through an injury for the worst team in the league. Again, what are we talking about here? Who would do that?

He also had a baby on the way so he definitely wanted to be in LA anyway. So that’s what he did he was in LA the whole time “rehabbing”. Bulls paid him 40 million to chill in his LA mansion lol.

I'll never understand why teams don’t make injured players still show up to work when they are hurt long term. They should still be around the team. Zach and Lonzo only showed up on the bench during the LA games which is ridiculous.

I don't have a strong opinion about it, but probably generally better to not have rehabbing guys travel. And also probably better if to let them live in their normal residence if it isn't near your team.

[League Circles]

I don't have a strong opinion about it, but probably generally better to not have rehabbing guys travel. And also probably better if to let them live in their normal residence if it isn't near your team.

I have a strong opinion about it. I think it's insane that a player would move across the country and not be with his team at all while he's injured and making that kind of money. His "normal residence" is Chicago. He should be in film sessions, meetings, and actually practices too just watching from a comfortable chair if he has a lower body problem. I know what you're describing is the nba norm but I can't believe anyone ever let it get to that point and I think it's absolutely ridiculous and a great example of why the NBA has such a negative reputation as a bunch of prima donnas. Makes me want Zach gone now.

[MalagaBulls]

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[MGB8]

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Good, if true.

(1) It makes AKME far less likely to blow cap on ISO, no D, DDR.

(2) LaVine is theoretically an excellent fit with Giddey, at least on offense. If he returns to form that will up his value so that they get a decent return - or they keep him as a bridge and good fit.

Note too that Zach can play decent man defense, it's team D that he gets confused about. That can be schemed around, as can his less than good decision making in the clutch.

[Chi town]

If we keep Zach and replace Vuc with a young defensive big like Bitadze or Jalen Smith I’m scared we will win too many games early.

Giddey is going to have us shooting lots of open 3s. Any rim protection at all and we will give up way less 3s due to less rotating.

[dougthonus]

I think it's absolutely ridiculous and a great example of why the NBA has such a negative reputation as a bunch of prima donnas. Makes me want Zach gone now.

Your strong opinion aside on what people should do, it's weird to blame Zach if he and management were in agreement on the approach taken and it is also the standard approach that most people take.

My guess is that given they were trying to move him that they weren't excited to have him around the team anyway.

[kodo]

D’Angelo Russell is opting in to his last year of his contract. Although I wouldn’t expect the Lakers to be interested in Zach now, maybe in a pump and dump scenario if the Lakers underperform early again. A Russell expiring helps with salaries.

Lakers might have been interested a long time ago when people assumed it was a normal trade, but when it became it apparent Chicago needs a salary dump that's impossible. They are like $80M away from having $40M of cap to absorb Lavine. I honestly don't know anyone, even bad teams, that would take that kind of salary dump. A $20M dump usually costs multiple picks and I don't think we want to attach anything to Zach.

If AK wants to move Zach he needs to run this as a normal trade and take back $40M of contract.

[Red8911]

I don't have a strong opinion about it, but probably generally better to not have rehabbing guys travel. And also probably better if to let them live in their normal residence if it isn't near your team.

I have a strong opinion about it. I think it's insane that a player would move across the country and not be with his team at all while he's injured and making that kind of money. His "normal residence" is Chicago. He should be in film sessions, meetings, and actually practices too just watching from a comfortable chair if he has a lower body problem. I know what you're describing is the nba norm but I can't believe anyone ever let it get to that point and I think it's absolutely ridiculous and a great example of why the NBA has such a negative reputation as a bunch of prima donnas. Makes me want Zach gone now.

Agreed that was exactly my point. Doesn’t need to travel with the team for away games that’s understandable but when the team is in Chicago for games / practices he should be present.

At the end of the day it’s not Zach or Lonzos fault since they let them get away with it. Teams should have requirements and be a bit more strict with that stuff.

[Red8911]

D’Angelo Russell is opting in to his last year of his contract. Although I wouldn’t expect the Lakers to be interested in Zach now, maybe in a pump and dump scenario if the Lakers underperform early again. A Russell expiring helps with salaries.

Lakers might have been interested a long time ago when people assumed it was a normal trade, but when it became it apparent Chicago needs a salary dump that's impossible. They are like $80M away from having $40M of cap to absorb Lavine. I honestly don't know anyone, even bad teams, that would take that kind of salary dump. A $20M dump usually costs multiple picks and I don't think we want to attach anything to Zach.

If AK wants to move Zach he needs to run this as a normal trade and take back $40M of contract.

Problem is Zach’s contract goes higher every year then to add to that if he gets traded it goes even higher I believe.

[dougthonus]

Problem is Zach’s contract goes higher every year then to add to that if he gets traded it goes even higher I believe.

He can waive the trade kicker if required to get a trade done (up to him). The trade kicker could be a defacto no trade clause as teams are already wary of taking him on, if he doesn't want to go somewhere and refuses to waive it then it makes him less desirable.

The bulls would pay the cash out on the trade kicker, but it would add to his cap number.

The contract itself will go up less each year than the salary cap, so as a percentage of the cap it will decrease (though not massively).

[HomoSapien]

There's an option 3. He would always need surgery, but could have possibly played through the injury and postponed the surgery for the off-season. I don't think he had an unnecessary surgery, but it wouldn't shock me if he moved it up to scare Detroit away. Pippen postponed his surgery out of spite for the organization, so it's not exactly an unheard-of move.

Sure, but that's a so-what moment to me. No player is playing through an injury that requires surgery for a non-playoff team and especially one that is the worst in the league. For the Pistons, you'd have to think if they were acquiring Zach it wasn't to make a playoff push or anything as they were in last and would be more about next year anyway.

All that said, Detroit has a new regime now, so revisiting the trade with Fournier may not be an option.

Agree this is true.

Totally agree. I don’t see anything all that controversial about it either.