Potential Zach Trade Partners? 24/25 Edition

[Bandit King]

No use trying to rehab lavine he is done with Billy as coach and the chicago bulls organization. No repairing it!!!!

[Muzbar]

A Dlo/Rui package would be a home run at this point. Bulls could(maybe) flip Dlo for an a bad expiring+asset.

What about Rui (Or D'Lo), Vincent and Vanderbilt for Zach and Craig?

I don't care for Vincent's contract. He and Jevon Carter are the same player. Vanderbilt? eh, he's solid.

Yeah it was more about getting a solid player in Vanderbilt (who could play with both Vuc and Smith) and taking on their 'bad contract' in Vincent as a way to incentivise they to swap Zach for Vando.

[PaKii94]

As a lavine "hater" I am vindicated with the lack of league interest but I'm actually very astonished that his value is THIS low. I was ok with begrudgingly giving him the max because "that was his market".... But looking back in hindsight... Was it?

[HomoSapien]

As a lavine "hater" I am vindicated with the lack of league interest but I'm actually very astonished that his value is THIS low. I was ok with begrudgingly giving him the max because "that was his market".... But looking back in hindsight... Was it?

Eh. I think the 2nd apron really handicaps flexibility. Prior to this rule change, I think plenty of teams would have rolled the dice on him but now there's just risk on top of risks. It's hard to justify trading for him unless you're a team like Detroit or Charlotte that just needs a jolt of talent.

[HomoSapien]

No use trying to rehab lavine he is done with Billy as coach and the chicago bulls organization. No repairing it!!!!

At this rate we might not have a choice. It's not exactly like sitting him indefinitely or buying him out helps us much either.

[kulaz3000]

The correct move is to just keep him, and build up his value. It would be a win win for both him getting on a team he may be more interested in, and the Bulls getting something of actual value for him. And knowing his track record, it's not like him being around is going to result in more wins either, and he really doesn't disrupt the youth movement all that much.

That said, if that is the path moving forward, we either need to find a move for Vuc, and DeMar is likely gone which makes the notion of Zach staying an easier pill to swallow.

[ChiefILL53]

More analytics on Lavine than you probably ever wanted to know.

https://theswishtheory.com/nba/2024/06/zach-lavine-the-wages-of-perception/

I had to skim thru it towards the end, but this is a really good breakdown. Thanks for this.

[Infinity2152]

More analytics on Lavine than you probably ever wanted to know.

https://theswishtheory.com/nba/2024/06/zach-lavine-the-wages-of-perception/

Have to say, great read. Sometimes when you start out bad at defense or injured, it causes perception to be you're still bad or always unavailable years later. It can really be hard to change early impressions. The stats and comparisons to similar players give a much more unbiased look than "eye test" or "contributes to winning"

[Bulldog23]

I think the right thing to do is probably keep Lavine and start him next year. Maybe Giddey can unlock him.

[jordanwilliams6]

I think the right thing to do is probably keep Lavine and start him next year. Maybe Giddey can unlock him.

What do you mean by ‘unlock’ him though? He’s already had several elite offensive seasons. The issues are his contract, effect on winning basketball games and injury history.

I don’t think we’re winning enough games to change any perception around him.

[CROBulls]

I think the right thing to do is probably keep Lavine and start him next year. Maybe Giddey can unlock him.

What do you mean by ‘unlock’ him though? He’s already had several elite offensive seasons. The issues are his contract, effect on winning basketball games and injury history.

I don’t think we’re winning enough games to change any perception around him.

I think he wanted to say Zach's best season was playing with Lonzo who is actually playmaker who pushes ball. Giddey is not Lonzo, but he is playmaker. And Giddey more being guy looking to pass, Zach is gonna have field day. It's not out the realm of reality. Zach just needs to start playing somewhat worthy of his contract and then he is gonna be easy trade up guy.

But overall dynamic between Bulls and Lavine is broken and at the end of day everyone is going their seperate way.

[DASMACKDOWN]

The correct move is to just keep him, and build up his value. It would be a win win for both him getting on a team he may be more interested in, and the Bulls getting something of actual value for him. And knowing his track record, it's not like him being around is going to result in more wins either, and he really doesn't disrupt the youth movement all that much.

That said, if that is the path moving forward, we either need to find a move for Vuc, and DeMar is likely gone which makes the notion of Zach staying an easier pill to swallow.

The issue with Zach though isn't his talent. The knock on him, is if he is a winning player or elevates the team.

That is a huge risk here.

We have made significant changes to the team since he last played. Let's face it, we are in the "unknown" in terms of how good or how bad we actually are. We just assume its bad.

If Zach plays well but we lose because the pieces are inconsistent, or not acclimated yet, its just going to look bad on Zach. Its not fair but that is how the basketball world views him.

And you have to think what would Zach have to do to suddenly change peoples minds? Does he have to drop 30 a night?

I've said it before, I hate this whole situation. If the Bulls didn't have this glass ceiling in terms of spending, this wouldn't even be such a desperate situation.

But since its King Jerry's law of not paying the tax, Zach's contract is going affect everything in the future. So now we are just desperate to move his contract off the books.

I actually think the teams are just waiting for AKME to fold and give up more assets to go with Zach. They know we are trapped because of the lux tax.

They are waiting for us to get completely desperate and give up like 2 future protected firsts or adding Ayo or Phillips etc. to sweeten the deal. Id lose it if that happened.

[Infinity2152]

Really hate the narrative on Zach. There are maybe 5-10 players in the league who will their teams to wins singlehandedly, could win on a losing team, players like Lebron, Luka, Jokic, Embid. Steph Curry just had a losing season with a bad team. Zach has pretty much been on bad, poorly constructed teams for his career, but he gets all the blame for the losing. His defense has increased a lot since his first 4 years, but still labeled a poor defender. Has played as many games as most of his competition, before last season he had ONE major injury that made him miss major time, 7 years ago. From 2018 till his injury last year he averaged around 70 out of 82 gms/yr. Bulls should ignore the noise and not move him until they get the right deal.

[Chi town]

Zach’s biggest issue is health. Had he come back and had a normal season last year he’d be playing elsewhere right now.

Who wants to trade for a player at his price with his injury history. Obviously, NO ONE.

Once he gets 30 healthy games behind him he will be attractive again.

Vuc will stay and command the tank. Only hope is he finds his 3 ball and another team wants him due to injury etc.

[Infinity2152]

The injury history is so overstated though. Outside of Lebron, most guys who play 30+ minutes have had some major injuries. Through the end of last season, Zach has played 73% of games. Before his ACL tear 7 years ago, had played 96% of games. From 2017-the 2022-23 season, he played 85% of games. Compare that to Durant, Embid, Beal, Booker, Jaylen Brown, Dejounte Murray, Khris Middleton, Kawhi Leonard. They've missed more games than him to injury, nobody's saying they're untradeable because of contract or injury history. Was Klay Thompson unmovable because of his injury history? Paul George? Steph was injured so often early in his career, warriors got him at a discount. What's he making now? This Zach is injured more than most stars is a narrative, not the truth when you look at games played vs his other peers.

[MGB8]

KC saying Warriors and Kings still possibilities. Wiggins and Looney and GP3 gets you to 43M, same as Zach’s salary (w/out trade kicker)… but Bulls missing an open roster spot. Could add in Craig going back, but very meh.

If Sacramento wants to send Huerter and Barnes (just under 35M), that may just be enough salary coming back if Zach declines to exercise trade kicker.

[sco]

KC saying Warriors and Kings still possibilities. Wiggins and Looney and GP3 gets you to 43M, same as Zach’s salary (w/out trade kicker)… but Bulls missing a pan open roster spot. Could add in Craig going back, but very meh.

If Sacramento wants to send Huerter and Barnes (just under 35M), that may just be enough salary coming back if Zach declines to exercise trade kicker.

Both are bad deals. GS deal is banking on Wiggins wanting to basketball, cuz you'd have him for 3 seasons. GP3 and Looney are on 1 year deals, so we save some $ sooner. Huerter and Barnes have 2 seasons left. Huerter is at least young and Barnes could be our starting 4, but then you are diluting minutes for Coby, Ayo, Pat, Phillips and Matas.

[boozapalooza]

KC saying Warriors and Kings still possibilities. Wiggins and Looney and GP3 gets you to 43M, same as Zach’s salary (w/out trade kicker)… but Bulls missing a pan open roster spot. Could add in Craig going back, but very meh.

If Sacramento wants to send Huerter and Barnes (just under 35M), that may just be enough salary coming back if Zach declines to exercise trade kicker.

Both are bad deals. GS deal is banking on Wiggins wanting to basketball, cuz you'd have him for 3 seasons. GP3 and Looney are on 1 year deals, so we save some $ sooner. Huerter and Barnes have 2 seasons left. Huerter is at least young and Barnes could be our starting 4, but then you are diluting minutes for Coby, Ayo, Pat, Phillips and Matas.

I think the goal would be to just clear Lavine off the books and hope you can flip Huerter/Barnes or Wiggins/Looney for picks/young players from there. Either combo of those guys should get major minutes with 0 constraints to start the year on our team and be in great position to boost their trade value midseason. Even if not, those guys could be flipped to other teams in need before the year starts.

This would be a page out of the Wizards playbook on their Beal trade last year. Through making multiple deals, they realized a much greater return in the end.

[sco]

KC saying Warriors and Kings still possibilities. Wiggins and Looney and GP3 gets you to 43M, same as Zach’s salary (w/out trade kicker)… but Bulls missing a pan open roster spot. Could add in Craig going back, but very meh.

If Sacramento wants to send Huerter and Barnes (just under 35M), that may just be enough salary coming back if Zach declines to exercise trade kicker.

Both are bad deals. GS deal is banking on Wiggins wanting to basketball, cuz you'd have him for 3 seasons. GP3 and Looney are on 1 year deals, so we save some $ sooner. Huerter and Barnes have 2 seasons left. Huerter is at least young and Barnes could be our starting 4, but then you are diluting minutes for Coby, Ayo, Pat, Phillips and Matas.

I think the goal would be to just clear Lavine off the books and hope you can flip Huerter/Barnes or Wiggins/Looney for picks/young players from there. Either combo of those guys should get major minutes with 0 constraints to start the year on our team and be in great position to boost their trade value midseason. Even if not, those guys could be flipped to other teams in need before the year starts.

This would be a page out of the Wizards playbook on their Beal trade last year. Through making multiple deals, they realized a much greater return in the end.

Other than Huerter and maybe GP3, IMO, none of those guys have positive trade value and will prove unmovable. I would think a rehabilitated Zach in 6-12 months would have materially more trade value that auctioning off the bits of crap we are talking about here.

[Muzbar]

KC saying Warriors and Kings still possibilities. Wiggins and Looney and GP3 gets you to 43M, same as Zach’s salary (w/out trade kicker)… but Bulls missing an open roster spot. Could add in Craig going back, but very meh.

If Sacramento wants to send Huerter and Barnes (just under 35M), that may just be enough salary coming back if Zach declines to exercise trade kicker.

GP2's son? That's a sure bet on a future player that may not be out of diapers yet.

I think the Warriors are out, they allegedly turned down an offer of Wiggins+ for Zach, they have no other way to match salaries.

The Kings I can see as still having some interest, but I think that window is closing fast plus they're also interested in Ingram.