Zach LaVine (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
A blockbuster trade proposal has the Chicago Bulls blowing up the NBA by sending superstar guard Zach LaVine to a Western Conference heavyweight.
Zach LaVine signed a five-year contract extension with the Bulls worth $215 million after leading them to 46 wins and a postseason appearance. But Chicago has gone backward ever since, going 40-42 and 39-43 over the last two years.
The Bulls stand to be even worse in 2024-25 after losing All-Star DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal with the Sacramento Kings. So at this point, Chicago GM Marc Eversley is better off commencing a full-scale rebuild by trading LaVine sooner rather than later.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley proposed a blockbuster trade idea that would see the Bulls deal LaVine and a 2029 first-round pick swap (top-three protected) to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Michael Porter Jr. and Zeke Nnaji:
“The Nuggets have lost a handful of reliable veterans since winning the 2023 title and largely tried to replace them with in-house, proven options.
If young players such as Christian Braun and Peyton Watson aren’t ready for major role expansions, that will only increase the burden shouldered by Nikola Jokić…
An offense with Jokić, LaVine and Jamal Murray might be unstoppable.
LaVine could also keep the attack moving when Jokić takes a breather, since he’s a capable playmaker on the ball and a good enough long-range shooter off it to help spread the floor for the non-spacing Russell Westbrook. This could be the kind of jolt Denver needs to keep pace in the perpetually improving Western Conference.”
After winning the NBA championship in 2023, the Nuggets were upset by the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 7 of the conference semis. They’re a legitimate contender with Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray leading the way, but completing a ‘big three” with the addition of LaVine would make them the favorites to win it all in 2025.
LaVine was limited to 25 games last season, averaging 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. He averaged over 23 points per game in the previous five years before that, including a career-high 27.4 points per game in 2020-21.
Nuggets Are The Perfect Landing Spot For Zach LaVine
The Nuggets are in win-now mode with both Jokić and Murray in their primes, so it makes sense to go all-in for a veteran like LaVine. The star guard leaves plenty to be desired defensively, but more than makes up for it with his production on offense.
The Western Conference is loaded with contenders, but adding LaVine would make Denver the team to beat in the NBA next season.
