Potential Zach Trade Partners? 24/25 Edition

[Muzbar]

He will.

From who? No one has that much capspace.

Nets would probably offer him $100M+.

They're rebuilding. Why would they want Butler? Makes no sense.

[TheSuzerain]

From who? No one has that much capspace.

Nets would probably offer him $100M+.

They're rebuilding. Why would they want Butler? Makes no sense.

Because if you can sign an actual star in UFA you do that.

[Muzbar]

Nets would probably offer him $100M+.

They're rebuilding. Why would they want Butler? Makes no sense.

Because if you can sign an actual star in UFA you do that.

A 35yo star when you're trying to rebuild and trading away your veterans...?

[boozapalooza]

From who? No one has that much capspace.

Nets would probably offer him $100M+.

They're rebuilding. Why would they want Butler? Makes no sense.

We’re rebuilding? Tell that to Billy, FO, and the players. We suck but have not shown any signs yet that were rebuilding. Zach and Vuc are still here, a month away from the deadline and no real reason to think either will be moved.

I’d take Jimmy if possible. Guys who have led teams to two finals appearances in the last 5 years dont grow on trees. Fully aware it will never happen, but hes one of the best playoff performers in the game and worth his $.

[Muzbar]

Nets would probably offer him $100M+.

They're rebuilding. Why would they want Butler? Makes no sense.

We’re rebuilding? Tell that to Billy, FO, and the players. We suck but have not shown any signs yet that were rebuilding. Zach and Vuc are still here, a month away from the deadline and no real reason to think either will be moved.

I’d take Jimmy if possible. Guys who have led teams to two finals appearances in the last 5 years dont grow on trees. Fully aware it will never happen, but hes one of the best playoff performers in the game and worth his $.

The conversation was about the Nets.

[sco]

Nets would probably offer him $100M+.

They're rebuilding. Why would they want Butler? Makes no sense.

We’re rebuilding? Tell that to Billy, FO, and the players. We suck but have not shown any signs yet that were rebuilding. Zach and Vuc are still here, a month away from the deadline and no real reason to think either will be moved.

I’d take Jimmy if possible. Guys who have led teams to two finals appearances in the last 5 years dont grow on trees. Fully aware it will never happen, but hes one of the best playoff performers in the game and worth his $.

I do believe that "Playoff Jimmy" is still there, but I doubt the Bulls get there with him. I don't see a good fit between Jimmy and Billy either. The only positive is the Jimmy would light a fire under Pat and show Matas how to do work in the the offseason. Maybe he could teach Coby how to do the dragstep and not get blocked as much on fast breaks.

[Muzbar]

The only possible/plausible destinations I see for LaVine are:

Orlando: KCP has actually been pretty horrendous so far for the Magic, and they've been decimated with injuries, this is a long shot though, IMO. But they could put together a package around KCP/Cole Anthony and fillers, they also have young pieces they could include and a few picks.

Detroit: The Pistons are trying to push for the play-in/playoffs, a high scoring vet like Zach would fit well next to Cade. They could build a financial package around THJ/Stewart plus they have capspace they can absorb some of Zachs salary into. They also have some young pieces that could be added, but can't trade any FRPs for a couple years.

Charlotte: The Hornets could use some veteran scoring and a LaMelo/LaVine backcourt would be entertaining. However, I'm not sure if they'd rather 'tank' another season or try and make a play-in push. I financial package around Josh Green/Miles Bridges works (I'd move Bridges to another team as I consider him a rubbish human being). Some restrictions on picks as they owe a FRP to SA.

Sacramento: This is another long shot destination as they'd likely have to send out DeMar to match Zach salary and he'd have to be traded to another team. Zach fits better on the Kings than DDR, IMO, as he's a great shooter and the Kings sorely lack in that department. Murray could potentially be in play in return, but I doubt it.

The Lakers, IMO, are out as they now lack the salaries to match Zach's (they aren't trading Austin Reaves) unless they do a 4 for 1 trade.

The Warriors are probably more interested in Vuc as he's cheaper. They Warriors would likely have to include Wiggins to match Zach, something they probably wouldn't do.

Lastly, I don't think Denver is a real option, they don't have anything appealing.

I honestly don't see any other teams that would realistically trade for Zach as the teams probably could match his salary or they already have players similar or playing at his position.

With all that said, Zach will remain a Bull for the duration of his contract.

[ChettheJet]

I could see

ORL as thinking they don't ant to give up o Carter next to Pancho and with Suggs coming up for big money, Now is the time to make a get Lavine and make a run he next two years. Then they come up with Lavine as an expiring, Pancho needing a max deal and they reset rather than rebuild.

DET has the new owner and he may tell his FO that now's the time to take a chance. Doesn't mean he's right but impatience is a disease.

CHA shouldn't even look at Zach, he's not going to lead a young group

If SAC can move DeRozan maybe they want Zach, they can't want both

Those 4 and the Lakers, GSW and DEN all need third or fourth teams to make an offer the Bulls like. I know it's much more difficult on here to add another 1 or 2 teams to a trade but the Bulls can;t get any perfect return from just one team for Zach's money.

[HomoSapien]

LaVine has scored 30 or more points seven times in his last eleven games, including three in a row. He's also had 7 or more assists in four of his last five games. On the season, he's shooting 51% from the field and 45% from down town. I also feel like he's competing on defense.

Zach LaVine may be the most underrated player in the entire NBA. Unless we're going hard for Flagg, I'm against trading him for the sake of trading him.

[Hangtime84]

LaVine has scored 30 or more points seven times in his last eleven games, including three in a row. He's also had 7 or more assists in four of his last five games. On the season, he's shooting 51% from the field and 45% from down town. I also feel like he's competing on defense.

Zach LaVine may be the most underrated player in the entire NBA. Unless we're going hard for Flagg, I'm against trading him for the sake of trading him.

Pretty much where I’m at unless a Bridges package comes from some desperate team.

[Muzbar]

LaVine has scored 30 or more points seven times in his last eleven games, including three in a row. He's also had 7 or more assists in four of his last five games. On the season, he's shooting 51% from the field and 45% from down town. I also feel like he's competing on defense.

Zach LaVine may be the most underrated player in the entire NBA. Unless we're going hard for Flagg, I'm against trading him for the sake of trading him.

Pretty much where I’m at unless a Bridges package comes from some desperate team.

No one is giving a Bridges deal for Zach.

[dougthonus]

Nets would probably offer him $100M+.

They're rebuilding. Why would they want Butler? Makes no sense.

Because if you can sign an actual star in UFA you do that.

If the Nets were going to trade for Butler, they'd have kept their role players and moved Simmons and some minor asset for him. They don't have the pieces to build around Butler or a reasonable way to acquire them to do something fast enough around a guy who will be 36 and has probably averaged about 58 games played per season over the past 7 years.

[dougthonus]

LaVine has scored 30 or more points seven times in his last eleven games, including three in a row. He's also had 7 or more assists in four of his last five games. On the season, he's shooting 51% from the field and 45% from down town. I also feel like he's competing on defense.

Zach LaVine may be the most underrated player in the entire NBA. Unless we're going hard for Flagg, I'm against trading him for the sake of trading him.

I agree. Just dumping Zach for salary space makes no sense. Dumping Zach for different players will almost certainly get you worse players as like you said, Zach is now maybe one of the most underrated players in the league. No one seems ready to offer a bunch of meaningful assets for him.

I'd just keep Zach unless the above calculus changes in some way.

[Jcool0]

LaVine has scored 30 or more points seven times in his last eleven games, including three in a row. He's also had 7 or more assists in four of his last five games. On the season, he's shooting 51% from the field and 45% from down town. I also feel like he's competing on defense.

Zach LaVine may be the most underrated player in the entire NBA. Unless we're going hard for Flagg, I'm against trading him for the sake of trading him.

Pretty much where I’m at unless a Bridges package comes from some desperate team.

No one is giving a Bridges deal for Zach.

He is worth that kind of deal.

[jnrjr79]

LaVine has scored 30 or more points seven times in his last eleven games, including three in a row. He's also had 7 or more assists in four of his last five games. On the season, he's shooting 51% from the field and 45% from down town. I also feel like he's competing on defense.

Zach LaVine may be the most underrated player in the entire NBA. Unless we're going hard for Flagg, I'm against trading him for the sake of trading him.

I agree. Just dumping Zach for salary space makes no sense. Dumping Zach for different players will almost certainly get you worse players as like you said, Zach is now maybe one of the most underrated players in the league. No one seems ready to offer a bunch of meaningful assets for him.

I'd just keep Zach unless the above calculus changes in some way.

IMO, a Zach deal needs to involve more than salary relief. If there isn't good draft capital coming, I've become comfortable keeping him, which is a change from where I was last season when I just would have dumped him for expirings.

I still cannot get over how Zach's perceived market value remains low. It's very stupid. Once Butler wanted out, the media was like "oh, Phoenix can trade Beal for him," as though Beal isn't a way, way worse player and contract. Yet he's perceived as having enough value to trade for Butler. Unreal.

[Guy Rodgers fan]

Here's my analogy relative to trading Zach:

In the great movie, "Field of Dreams" the brother-in-law (Tim Busfield) of Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) spends most of the movie insisting, "Ray, you have to sell the farm, sell the farm, Ray." Finally, when he sees the magic of Shoeless Joe and the other players emerging from the corn fields, he starts muttering, "Don't sell the farm, Ray, don't sell the farm."

That's me on Zach. Over most of the past year, I've been thinking "Bulls have to trade Zach, they have to trade Zach." But now over the past few weeks with how terrific he has played, I'm on "Don't trade, Zach, don't trade Zach."

[Indomitable]

Also I'm pretty certain you need a minimum amount on a roster before and after making a trade, so 7-for-2 trades aren't going to work.

Butler is just an expiring. Bulls get Hachimura, Vanderbilt, and cap relief for LaViine, Williams,:and Vucevic.

No to everything in that trade.

[Anderson Hunt]

A player has zero value, regardless of their talent, if other teams aren't readily willing to trade for him.

LaVine's contract should be traded, so the Bulls can break up his huge contract into smaller chunks and get value for those smaller deals.

Not only that, LaVine's presence suppresses other guys value. With LaVine gone, White's contract becomes one of, if not the best deals in the league.

[jnrjr79]

A player has zero value, regardless of their talent, if other teams aren't readily willing to trade for him.

LaVine's contract should be traded, so the Bulls can break up his huge contract into smaller chunks and get value for those smaller deals.

Not only that, LaVine's presence suppresses other guys value. With LaVine gone, White's contract becomes one of, if not the best deals in the league.

White had most of last season without LaVine. He hasn't changed all that much with him. I think DeRozan being gone has given him enough space to be whoever he is and that Zach's presence has basically no effect.

[sco]

A player has zero value, regardless of their talent, if other teams aren't readily willing to trade for him.

LaVine's contract should be traded, so the Bulls can break up his huge contract into smaller chunks and get value for those smaller deals.

Not only that, LaVine's presence suppresses other guys value. With LaVine gone, White's contract becomes one of, if not the best deals in the league.

White had most of last season without LaVine. He hasn't changed all that much with him. I think DeRozan being gone has given him enough space to be whoever he is and that Zach's presence has basically no effect.

I do think that, without Zach, Coby's scoring will go up and his efficiency will go down because he will become our #1 option (assuming Vuc is gone too). That said, I think there is a certain amount of value tied to raw scoring, regardless of efficiency, and his trade value would go up under that scenario.

On the concept of breaking-up Zach's contract somehow bringing back guys who would net us more overall value, I don't buy that. IMO, there are MAX players who are worth their contract, and those guys have real value (i.e. will bring back 1 or more 1sts). There are MAX guys who aren't worth their contract, and those deals either bring back expirings or require additional assets to unload. IMO Zach his gone from the latter to the former this season. I think the fact that he's been on the market so long and the recency of his evolution, his market value hasn't risen as much as it should. Also, IMO, his market value is depressed because there are are so few teams with the asset/cap flexibility to do a deal during the season. I've long been of the notion that a Zach deal won't happen until the offseason.