NBA Central

Zach LaVine's season-high 36 points against Boston Celtics on Thursday could help raise his trade value for the Chicago Bulls.

According to ClutchPoints' Brett Seigel, "in recent weeks, the mood surrounding LaVine has changed across the league."

LaVine is averaging 22.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Bulls so far this season.

He has been shooting 50.5 percent from the field and a career best 43.5 percent from deep to lead the Bulls in scoring through 24 starts.

"Regardless of his contract, these numbers could instantly help many playoff-contending teams around the league," Siegel wrote. "Talk of teams paying attention to LaVine's situation in Chicago is growing."

LaVine has been particularly strong over the last two weeks of play, with three 30-point outings in a four-game stretch capped off by the win over the Celtics.

Zach LaVine with an All-Star performance!

36 pts | 11-19 FG | 6-11 from three | 4 ast pic.twitter.com/KpdlKdg5bZ

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 20, 2024

LaVine is making $43 million this season, and should he take his player option for the 2026-27 campaign he would be owed almost $95 million over the next two.

His recent production could help the Bulls find another team willing to take on that costly deal.

One potential trade partner could be the Denver Nuggets, who so far this season have struggled to find scoring outside of Nikola Jokić. The Athletic's Tony Jones and Sam Amick recently reported that LaVine is one of the players the Nuggets have shown interest in amid their search for offensive help.

According to Jones and Amick, the Nuggets' "focus on LaVine in recent discussions is significant."

Any Nuggets trade would likely involve Michael Porter Jr., Jones and Amick added. Porter is also signed for two more seasons, but he is younger and costs slightly less than LaVine, which could make him an attractive target for the Bulls.

Adding LaVine would allow the Nuggets to add a second scorer behind Jokić, while giving the Bulls the chance to move a player who has reportedly been on the trade block for the last year and a half.

Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine is not worried about persistent trade speculation.

The two-time All-Star said Thursday that he focuses on controlling his mood and mindset but not the rampant trade rumors that are "out of my control."

Zach LaVine on more trade speculation: “I’m not the one controlling that. That’s what has been so good about my mindset. I can control what my mood is and my mindset going into each game. Outside of that, it’s out of my control.”

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 19, 2024

LaVine is averaging 22.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 24 games for the Bulls this season. Despite that solid production, Chicago is 13-15 and may prefer to embrace a rebuild and recoup value for LaVine while he is healthy and playing well.

LaVine's name has been surfacing in trade rumors for years. He's currently being linked to the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers. Denver appears to be the most likely destination as the team has reportedly put "significant" focus on him, according to The Athletic.

Milwaukee Bucks star point guard Damian Lillard added a unique distinction to his resume on Wednesday.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Lillard agreed to a lifetime contract extension with Adidas, making him just the fourth active player in the NBA to have a lifetime shoe endorsement deal. Lillard joins Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, who is signed to Under Armour/Curry Brand, and Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who are both signed to Nike.

Lillard originally signed a multiyear sponsorship deal with Adidas upon entering the NBA as the sixth overall pick in the 2012 draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and then negotiated a new 10-year deal worth up to $100 million with the company in 2014. Earlier this year, Adidas announced that it named the gymnasium court at the company's headquarters in Portland after Lillard.

Charania noted that Lillard's new deal pushes his career salaries from his on-court and shoe contracts to above $600 million. The veteran floor general's representative Aaron Goodwin of Goodwin Sports Management had been negotiating a new deal with Adidas since his previous contract expired this past offseason. Goodwin had also negotiated James and Durant's initial deals with Nike.

The lifetime shoe deal continues a monumental week for Lillard, as he helped lead the Bucks past the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night in Las Vegas to win the NBA Cup championship. The 34-year-old had 23 points in the 97-81 victory and is now averaging 25.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game this season.

After a disappointing first-round exit from the playoffs last season amid injuries to Lillard, star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and other key players, the Bucks have put themselves in the conversation of top title contenders in the Eastern Conference. If Lillard continues performing at a high level, Milwaukee will have a strong chance to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since its last title win in 2021.

The Bucks (14-11) will return to action on Friday when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers (23-4).

Beyond the bragging rights that come with winning the NBA Cup, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo had another motivation to help his team beat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Antetokounmpo said he made a promise to Liam Robbins, who is playing on a two-way contract, that the Bucks would win the NBA Cup and get the prize money that comes with it to allow Robbins to purchase a house he wanted in Iowa.

Giannis Antetokounmpo talks about how he promised #Bucks rookie Liam Robbins that Milwaukee would try to win the #EmiratesNBACup so Liam can buy a house in Iowa @FanDuel pic.twitter.com/UBZcHRoESQ

— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) December 18, 2024

Robbins went undrafted out of Vanderbilt in 2023. He was set to play for the Birmingham Squadron in the G League last season, but he suffered a stress reaction in his right leg with the New Orleans Pelicans during the preseason that prevented him from playing in a game.

The Bucks signed Robbins as a free agent in August and converted his deal to a two-way contract on Oct. 21. The move allows him to play in up to 50 regular-season games with the main club, as well as play for the Wisconsin Herd in the G League.

Robbins was born in Davenport, Iowa, and attended Assumption High School in the city before reclassifying and transferring to Sunrise Christian Academy. He played college basketball at Drake, Minnesota and Vanderbilt before making it to the NBA.

Two-way contract values are worth 50 percent of the rookie minimum salary, pro-rated based on the signing date. Since Robbins signed before the start of the 2024-25 season, he will earn the full $578,577.

The Bucks' 97-81 victory on Tuesday night earned Robbins nearly as much money for one game as he will earn all season. Players on the winning team receive a prize payout of $514,971.

Antetokounmpo had an excellent performance in what has been a fantastic season for the two-time MVP. He recorded a triple-double with 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists against a Thunder defense that has been the best unit in the NBA.

The Bucks made it through the tournament with a perfect 7-0 record. Robbins has played in five games this season, with his most recent appearance coming on Dec. 4 against the Atlanta Hawks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo keeps adding to his trophy case.

The Milwaukee Bucks superstar was named the NBA Cup MVP after leading his team to a 97-81 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the championship round on Tuesday night.

More hardware for Giannis, as he's named the 2024 #EmiratesNBACup MVP 🦌 pic.twitter.com/EauN8wKeUr

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 18, 2024

GIANNIS AND THE BUCKS WENT ALL IN FOR THE NBA CUP CHAMPIONSHIP 🎰🏆 pic.twitter.com/kJGfk4B0FM

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 18, 2024

The Greek Freak was in rare form, notching a triple-double with 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists to go along with three blocks and two steals, dominating the game on both ends of the floor.

Giannis letting everyone know they won that $500K 🤑 pic.twitter.com/oKYKGcoKlP

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 18, 2024

These angles of Giannis' block on Caruso 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TbgLSXAiUA

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 18, 2024

GIANNIS AND-1 💪

The Bucks have taken control here in the third 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XQ1SETlsLZ

— ESPN (@espn) December 18, 2024

GIANNIS GOT UP FOR THE ALLEY-OOP 💪

📺 NBA Cup final | LIVE on ABC pic.twitter.com/71cA4kePWU

— ESPN (@espn) December 18, 2024

Damian Lillard added 23 points and four assists for the Bucks, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 21 points in the losing effort.

It was a statement victory for both Giannis and the Bucks as Milwaukee continues to look like a force after a 2-8 start to the season:

Tough to envision a more comprehensive or compelling way for Giannis to make the case that he hasn't dropped down that Best Player in the World List, like, at all

— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) December 18, 2024

This game won't count in the standings but Milwaukee is putting a hell of a beating on OKC in the Cup final. Giannis continues to be a menace and that once awful defense is suddenly pretty good.

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) December 18, 2024

Giannis is strongest hulk there is.

— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) December 18, 2024

Giannis with the greatest NBA Cup final performance…..ever.

— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) December 18, 2024

We spent literal years on here debating whether or not Giannis had a, “bag,” with idiots. Need that time back.

— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) December 18, 2024

An absolutely dominant performance tonight by Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks to take the second edition of the NBA Cup.

Antetokounmpo has been incredible in turning Milwaukee’s season around over the past several weeks, and he was again tonight.

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) December 18, 2024

An MVP-type performance from Giannis.

This is the best he's ever been which speaks volumes for a two-time MVP and champion who once dropped 50 in a title-clinching win.

He stopped shooting 3s.
He become a more aggressive shot blocker.

This isn't a good Bucks team. He's great.

— Micah Adams (@MAdamsStatGuy) December 18, 2024

A year ago, the Bucks lost in the NBA Cup semifinals to the Indiana Pacers, part of a disappointing overall season that ended with a first-round exit against the Pacers.

There were serious concerns after the team's slow start this year as well, though the Bucks have now won 12 of its last 17 games in the regular season and claimed Tuesday's NBA Cup.

Lillard told ESPN's Jamal Collier on Friday that Antetokounmpo, in particular, kept pushing the Bucks forward through those early struggles.

"I would be texting with Giannis, and we'd be talking at practice or whatever, his mind was never shut off," he said. "He was never discouraged. He was never overly concerned. It was always, fight. Our conversations had always been, like, we're going to turn it around. We're going to figure it out. We're going to lead. We've got to keep going. We've got to dominate. I wasn't overly concerned because I knew that eventually it would turn around just based off of that."

On Tuesday, Antetokounmpo made sure that he, and the Bucks, kept dominating.

Ahead of the NBA Cup Championship on Tuesday, where the Milwaukee Bucks will face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder, first-year Bucks head coach Doc Rivers shared his enthusiasm for the in-season tournament.

"There (are) things you learn. I just can't tell you what they are, but you don't get to get this experience during the regular season," Rivers told ESPN's Malika Andrews (2:36 in video). "This will help us, this will help Oklahoma, Atlanta, Houston... everybody that was here it's going to help us later."

The 14-11 Milwaukee Bucks secured a 110-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday to clinch their spot in the NBA Cup Championship. Rivers expressed his excitement about the opportunity, highlighting the positive impact the game could have on the team.

"This cup, I liked it last year as a broadcaster, I love it more as a coach," Rivers said "I think it's good for our league."

The NBA Cup has received widespread praise since its introduction last season for creating a playoff-like atmosphere early in the year and helping teams prepare for the intensity of the real-deal in June.

The matchup between the Thunder and Bucks will feature an early showdown between two MVP frontrunners: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Adding to the excitement, each player on the winning team will take home a $500,000 prize.

Antetokounmpo echoed Rivers' sentiments, emphasizing that every big win in the league can create a domino effect, setting the stage for future success.

"I think when you approach the game that way, things like being in the NBA Cup final and winning the Championship just fall into place," Antetokounmpo told reporters.

Chicago Bulls star guard Zach LaVine has long been the subject of trade rumors, but there's reportedly a belief around the NBA that there's a significant roadblock in any potential deal for him.

ESPN's Bobby Marks spoke to one team that said LaVine's contract with the Bulls will likely prevent it and most other teams around the league from pursuing him in a trade.

"If we were operating under the 2017 CBA and there were no apron rules, I could make a case to my owner on LaVine," the team told Marks. "But his salary boxes you into a corner on how we can add to the roster."

Counting the rest of this season, LaVine has three years remaining on the $215 million max contract he signed with the Bulls in 2022. His cap hit for this year is $43 million, and he has a $46 million salary for 2025-26 as well as a $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign.

Marks pointed out that if LaVine is traded, the Bulls would owe him 15 percent of his remaining salary as a trade bonus, which amounts to $9.4 million. If the bonus isn't waived, LaVine's cap hit for 2025-26 rises to $51 million.

A two-time All-Star, LaVine is off to a strong start for the 11-15 Bulls with averages of 21.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 50.1 percent from the field and a career-high 42.8 percent from three-point range. He's appeared in 23 of Chicago's 26 games after being limited to just 25 appearances in the entirety of 2023-24 due to a foot injury.

While LaVine would be a difference-maker on a contender, it sounds like teams around the league aren't rushing to pry him away from the Bulls.

The stage is set for the NBA Cup Finals and Giannis Antetokounmpo understands the task ahead.

His Milwaukee Bucks secured a 110-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks Saturday to advance to the championship game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After securing the spot in the final, Antetokounmpo said his team needs to lock in and get it done.

"The only thing that matters right here is to get a win, and that's the message within our team right now," Antetokounmpo said, per Jamal Collier of ESPN. "Everybody got to stay locked in. Everybody got to stay locked in; the job's not done."

Antetokounmpo scored 32 points with 14 rebounds and nine assists while shooting 10-of-15 on field goals. Damian Lillard also had a strong day, scoring 25 points and adding seven assists, six rebounds and three steals.

The Bucks secure their first trip to the tournament championship and will contend for more than $500,000 that goes to each player on the winning team.

The Thunder clinched their spot via a 111-96 victory over the Houston Rockets. It's also their first trip to the championship game as the Los Angeles Lakers took home the inaugural title after defeating the Indiana Pacers in the final game last year.

For a Bucks team that is currently 14-11, earning a key victory in the in-season tournament could be a major momentum boost.

The Championship Game is set for Dec. 17 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are headed to the 2024 NBA Cup Finals.

The star duo combined for 57 points on Saturday night to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 110-102 NBA Cup semifinal victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

The Bucks ADVANCE to the #EmiratesNBACup Championship! pic.twitter.com/ejvi45EP4z

— NBA (@NBA) December 15, 2024

The Bucks will take on either the Houston Rockets or Oklahoma City Thunder for the in-season tournament title next week.

Milwaukee led at the half on Saturday night, but a big third quarter by Hawks guard Trae Young left the Bucks trailing by one point heading into the fourth.

14 in the quarter for Trae ❄️ pic.twitter.com/7aPBexRDQq

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) December 14, 2024

The Bucks stormed back to regain the lead in the final 15 minutes, then held on to the advantage thanks to strong defense from Antetokounmpo.

UNREAL BLOCK BY GIANNIS! pic.twitter.com/Uw4StJjRqu

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 14, 2024

Antetokounmpo finished out the win leading the Bucks with 32 points and 14 rebounds, while adding nine assists and four blocks.

The victory marked the fifth straight game during which Antetokounmpo has contributed at least 30 points. He also topped 10 rebounds in four of those five outings.

I have always been a believer in Giannis Antetokounmpo… but that block just re-baptized me! 🤯 #NBACup

— Chiney Ogwumike (@chiney) December 14, 2024

Giannis is going to have a compilation of blocked alleys lol

— Dom2K 🎅🎇 (@Dom_2k) December 14, 2024

Giannis is one of the guys in the league you must see in person at least once.

— Raj C. (@RajChipalu) December 14, 2024

When you factor in defense, like we all should, Giannis is the MVP and the best player in the world.

— Jay (@ntajayb) December 14, 2024

Lillard meanwhile contributed 25 bounds, six rebounds, seven assists and three steals while stepping up in the fourth quarter to help the Bucks seal the win.

DAME DOING WHAT HE DOES. pic.twitter.com/Fy4LJiUqRO

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 15, 2024

Giannis not having to touch the ball down the stretch of (MOST) games because he has Dame and Middleton is such a luxury.

I personally love the fit. Giannis dominates for most of the game and then Dame takes over the last five minutes.

— Swipa (@SwipaCam) December 15, 2024

They were talking about the Bucks should trade Giannis or Dame LOL

— AHMAD K SMITH (@AKISNBA) December 15, 2024

Bucks still got Prime Giannis and Dame.

Always a threat

— AP (@BStapIes) December 15, 2024

Young led the Hawks in the loss with a game-high 35 points while adding ten rebounds.

The outing marked his 83rd career game with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, the fifth most in NBA history, according to Hawks PR.

Trae Young is doing EVERYTHING for the Hawks rn. This is beautiful to watch

— The Hood Therapist (@OhhMar24) December 14, 2024

Trae Young’s commitment to give real effort on the defensive end this year has been something. Just full sprinted out of a wing double team to close to the opposite corner to prevent a 3, then chased Green over the hand off to block a 3.

— Kieran Reynolds (@KJ_Reynolds_) December 14, 2024

It's hard not to love this Hawks team, man. They play so hard. They're so athletic. They move the ball. If those young wings can just go from bad to average at shooting they'll really have something.

— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) December 14, 2024

There are three teams left in NBA Cup contention following the Hawks' elimination. The Rockets and Thunder tip off their own semifinal game at 8:30 p.m. ET.

An in-season title will be on the line when Antetokounmpo, Lillard and the Bucks return to face one of those two opponents in the NBA Cup Final next Tuesday.

The Chicago Bulls are reportedly seeking draft picks in return for one of their veterans.

Per NBA insider Marc Stein, the Bulls are looking for a first-round pick in return for center Nikola Vučević after Chicago failed to get draft picks when it traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey over the offseason.

Vučević could yield a high return given the fantastic start to the season he's had. The 15-year veteran is averaging 21 points on 58.7 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from deep while hauling in 9.8 boards per game, on track for one of the best seasons of his career.

A trade would give Vučević a chance to potentially play for a playoff contender while helping the Bulls build for the future amid an 11-15 start to the year.

Chicago has been somewhat conservative in the trade market over the past few years. The deal that sent Caruso to the Thunder for Giddey was the first time the Bulls had conducted a trade since 2021 when they dealt Lauri Markkanen to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade that landed them Derrick Jones Jr.

The Bulls, who have been to the playoffs just twice since 2016, could seemingly change the way they approach trades as they continue their rebuild.

Though Chicago didn't get any picks from the Thunder during the offseason, it owns the Portland Trail Blazers first-round pick in 2025 thanks to the Markkanen deal, which could very well be a lottery pick given Portland's 8-17 start to the season.

Landing another first-round pick in next year's draft could be worth parting with Vučević considering the 2025 draft class, highlighted by Duke star Cooper Flagg, has plenty of talent.