Teams that make the most sense as last-minute suitors for Zach LaVine
All indications are that Chicago Bulls stadium announcer Tim Sinclair will be shouting Zach LaVine’s name into the rafters of the United Center on October 26. Despite a seemingly endless barrage of transfer rumors over the past year or so, the two-time All-Star is sticking with the organization.
But don’t be fooled! LaVine’s continued presence is not intentional. Arturas Karnisovas and Co. have apparently called every member of management and their mother to try to sell the 29-year-old goal-scorer on them. Especially after the Bulls parted ways with successful players like DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso, it’s obvious that they’re ready to move in a significantly new direction. But LaVine’s remaining three years and $138.0 million are keeping them from doing just that.
Even though transfer talks have cooled off for now, they are expected to pick up again soon. Now that the reality of the regular season is starting to set in, I wouldn’t be surprised to see rumors start to surface again before the regular season even starts. There are a handful of teams looking to stay in the championship race, and who’s to say they aren’t starting to feel the pressure?
Let’s look at some teams that could be last-minute replacements for Zach LaVine.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are still eyeing the transfer market. According to longtime NBA insider Marc Stein, the organization believes it is “well positioned” for an upgrade in the foreseeable future. And, well, it’s hard not to agree.
Whether it’s Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Trayce Jackson-Davis or Moses Moody, the Warriors’ front office has done a good job of assembling young talent over the past few seasons. Not to mention, they have more financial flexibility after opting not to give Klay Thompson his net contract. Andrew Wiggins also has a contract that could prove valuable if they’re looking to use the money on another star. He’s due $27.3 million annually.
With Stephen Curry still performing at the highest level despite being 36 years old, making the most of the remaining championship window is crucial. With that in mind, they are certainly a hot candidate to make a splash in the transfer market sooner rather than later, especially after missing out on Lauri Markkanen and Paul George this summer.
Does that mean they’ll focus on a disgruntled player like Zach LaVine? No, and they’ve made their lack of interest in the two-time All-Star clear so far. But in the NBA, things can change quickly.
Since we’ve talked about LaVine and the Warriors before this offseason, I’ll refer you to that article. In short, if Golden State wants to fill the Klay Thompson void with another elite off-ball scorer while not giving up too much, LaVine could be the perfect target. The Bulls don’t have a lot of cap space, so the Warriors could still sign an ultra-athletic basket-hitter and still have the tools to do even more in the future.
I really think Zach LaVine makes a lot of sense in The Bay.
Los Angeles Lakers
When we talk about a Klutch customer, we might as well mention the Los Angeles Lakers
Unlike the Warriors, the Lakers were at least briefly considered a possible landing spot. LeBron James and Co. just got knocked out in the first round of the postseason and don’t seem to be serious contenders for a spot in the 2024-25 NBA Finals. After all, the Lakers had excellent All-NBA-level seasons from both Anthony Davis and James last year. Not being able to capitalize on that puts pressure on the organization, especially since James’ retirement is now a topic of conversation after every season.
Whether they’re pursuing Russell Westbrook or D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers have shown they’re not afraid to make a desperate move. Add in the agency connections, and no one would be surprised if they suddenly became a suitor for Zach LaVine again tomorrow. Not to mention, LaVine could fill a pretty big hole on the roster. The Lakers lack a reliable perimeter shooter and a reliable 3-point shooter. Last season, the team ranked 28th in 3PAs. LaVine may not be able to provide the defense the Lakers want at the guard position, but they at least have a potential DPOY candidate who can help cover up any mistakes.
I recently saw a fake trade from Bleacher Report that sent Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jaxson Hayes to Chicago for LaVine. All in all, I’d make that trade in a heartbeat… which certainly means the Lakers would scoff at it! A far more realistic deal would probably replace Austin Reaves with someone like D’Angelo Russell. The Bulls would also probably prefer to find a third party to take on that contract, as Russell’s fit with Coby White and Josh Giddey doesn’t make much sense.
Still, the Lakers are exactly the kind of team that could start to panic as the season approaches. Not only do they need more athleticism to compete with some of the younger teams in the conference, but they also like star power. LaVine can sell a few jerseys on the West Coast.
Los Angeles Clippers
Steve Ballmer isn’t afraid to make noise. The outgoing Clippers owner is about to open a new state-of-the-art arena, and the organization doesn’t seem to want to take a step back competitively. They may have let Paul George go this offseason, but they re-signed Kawhi Leonard long-term and kept James Harden.
LA also remains one of the league’s strongest teams. Whether it’s due to the recent signings of Derrick Jones Jr. and Nic Batum or the consistent presence of Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac, the Clippers have a pretty solid supporting cast. They may have to subtract a little of that to make room for LaVine, but it could also be worth it considering how much momentum he could bring on offense. Giving the 27-year-old a playmaker like James Harden could be perfect. Meanwhile, Leonard is on the other side to wreak havoc on defense.
Health would obviously be an issue, but what else is new for the Clippers? LaVine would at least bring a level of transition points and athleticism that the team has lacked over the last few years. Plus, I can’t imagine Ballmer being financially responsible for long. No one is more willing to spend money and live with the consequences than he is.
Wild Card: Denver Nuggets
Bear with me. I know this sounds crazy, but I also think that it is a bit fewer crazy the more you think about it.
The Denver Nuggets didn’t exactly have a great offseason. They lost their key player Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic and did virtually nothing to fill that void. The front office will now go into the upcoming season putting a lot of weight on the shoulders of several young players. Players like Peyton Watson, Christian Braun and Julian Strawther will need to find ways to contribute at a high level. But are they capable of doing so, especially in an environment where the title is at stake?
Zach LaVine’s backcourt matchup with Jamal Murray wouldn’t be perfect. We also can’t ignore the very real concerns about the long-term health of both players. But there’s absolutely no denying that LaVine and Murray would be a great duo for Nikola Jokic to experiment with. Both are excellent off-ball shooters who can sink threes in large numbers. Also, can you imagine a team with Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine on the court? That level of explosiveness would be insane!
Of course, that would probably only work if the Nuggets are willing to part with someone like Michael Porter Jr., who is entering the third year of a five-year, $179.3 million deal. Giving up the 25-year-old would be tough, especially after he played in a career-high 81 games last season. I also think the Nuggets understand he would be way too much of a trade for LaVine, which would make it really difficult to pull off. Still, the Nuggets have every reason in the world to stay aggressive, and LaVine’s fit with Jokic could be enticing.
