Chicago Bulls

Newly acquired Sacramento Kings star Zach LaVine addressed his departure from the Chicago Bulls and thanked the organization and its fanbase.

"It's tough to put into words how much this city and this organization have meant to me over the past 8 years," he said in a post on X. "Chicago, you've welcomed me with open arms, and the memories we've created together will stay with me forever. The fans here are unlike any other—you've made playing in Chicago a true honor, and I'll always be grateful for your support. To my teammates, coaches, and the entire Bulls staff thank you."

It’s tough to put into words how much this city and this organization have meant to me over the past 8 years. Chicago, you’ve welcomed me with open arms, and the memories we’ve created together will stay with me forever. The fans here are unlike any other—you’ve made playing in… pic.twitter.com/QyoUA1jFei

— Zach LaVine (@ZachLaVine) February 4, 2025

LaVine landed in Chicago ahead of his fourth season in the NBA, having been part of Jimmy Butler's trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves. While a member of the Bulls, he blossomed into a two-time All-Star and one of the better pound-for-pound scorers in franchise history.

The 6'5" guard averaged 24.2 points per game, which is the third-highest for a Bulls player, and he's sixth all time in points (10,056).

At the end of the day, LaVine's eight-year run may not be remembered all that fondly by Bulls fans, which is less about him and more a larger reflection of the organization.

The 29-year-old made the playoffs just once with Chicago, and that resulted in a first-round exit at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks after five games.

Under Tom Thibodeau, the Bulls had a firm on-court identity, stars for the fanbase to rally around, and consistent success from year to year. Thibodeau was fired after the 2014-15 season and it has been a downhill slide ever since then.

The LaVine trade probably didn't spark a ton of emotions aside from anger at the fact Chicago got little in return for its best player aside from salary relief, pretty much the same story from when the Bulls sent DeMar DeRozan to the Kings in a sign-and-trade.

LaVine wasn't spared from criticism as a member of the Bulls because no star player ever is. But there was always a tacit acknowledgement the team's issues went far beyond his contributions on the court.

Considering how long Zach LaVine resided on the NBA trading block, the Chicago Bulls must feel like a burden has been lifted after finally getting his trade done.

They don't have time to pat themselves on the back, though. Not when there's so much other work to be done ahead of Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.

Chicago's front office finally seems committed to an organizational overhaul. Only the Bulls' brass knows why it took so long to reach this point, but the important thing is they're here now. They're finally stepping off the treadmill of mediocrity and entering a land in which draft-lottery odds and player development take precedence over play-in tournament participation.

Well, hopefully that's the case, at least. If the LaVine trade is the only move Chicago makes, then this becomes yet another wasted opportunity to move this franchise forward.

The Bulls are reportedly "actively working to make trades," per K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network, and have "optimism for a Lonzo Ball trade in which draft capital would be acquired."

Ball's comeback has been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal season in Chicago, and his impact on this club is undeniable. His two-way playmaking has proved invaluable, and the Bulls have fared a whopping 10.5 points better per 100 possessions with him than without, per NBA.com.

And yet, his value as a trade chip would easily exceed his on-court importance. That's because the Bulls might be years away from competing for anything of real significance, so present contributors pale in comparison to future assets.

That's why Chicago will surely work the phones to find a new home for veteran center Nikola Vučević, too. Just about anyone who could be flipped for draft considerations is worth shopping around. ESPN's Bobby Marks even listed Coby White among his "names to keep an eye on [in Chicago]."

The mention of White might catch a few folks off guard.

He hasn't turned 25 yet (though he will soon) and just broke out in a big enough way to finish just behind Tyrese Maxey (and just ahead of Alperen Şengün) in last season's Most Improved Player award voting. White has a not impossible path to stardom and a plausible path toward really good-dom. He's even playing on one of the league's best non-rookie contracts.

The Bulls are still right to see what he might bring back in a trade. He's probably fetching the most of any of their players on the market, and if someone wants to meet a high price for him, Chicago should let them.

That's the right attitude for the franchise to have with virtually this entire roster. The Bulls have presumably positioned rookie lottery pick Matas Buzelis and 22-year-old floor general Josh Giddey (acquired last summer in a straight-up swap for Alex Caruso) as their building blocks. No one else should be off-limits.

The Bulls must be as active as anyone as this week. There are more buyers than obvious sellers, and Chicago can use that to its advantage. This team has plug-and-play contributors to shop around, and it should be looking to extract as much as the market is willing to bear.

It took the Bulls more than a year to facilitate LaVine's exit, and one could argue their patience was rewarded. They must be much more proactive with the rest of their roster, though, because the time to make additional moves is right now.

Zach LaVine's time in Chicago has come to an end. And he's not the only one changing teams.

The Bulls are trading the 29-year-old to the Sacramento Kings as part of a three-team deal that also involves the San Antonio Spurs, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The full details of the trade are as follows:

Full trade:

Spurs: De'Aaron Fox, Jordan McLaughlin

Kings: Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first round picks (2025 CHA, 2027 SAS, 2031 MIN), three second round picks (2025 CHI, 2028 DEN, 2028 own back)

Bulls: Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, their own 2025 pick via SAS https://t.co/UgwylCUYAO

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2025

With LaVine added to the mix, the Kings' depth chart now looks like this:

• PG: Devin Carter, Keon Ellis
• SG: Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, Colby Jones, Sidy Cissoko
• SF: DeMar DeRozan, Doug McDermott, Jae Crowder
• PF: Keegan Murray, Trey Lyles, Isaac Jones
• C: Domantas Sabonis, Alex Len

Meanwhile, the Bulls' roster will look quite different after losing their biggest star:

• PG: Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, Lonzo Ball
• SG: Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter
• SF: Dalen Terry, Talen Horton-Tucker
• PF: Patrick Williams, Matas Buzelis, Julian Phillips
• C: Nikola Vučević, Zach Collins, Jalen Smith

The Spurs landed the biggest star in the deal by acquiring De'Aaron Fox, who instantly becomes the top running mate for star big man Victor Wembanyama:

• PG: De'Aaron Fox, Chris Paul, Jordan McLaughlin
• SG: Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie, Malaki Branham
• SF: Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson
• PF: Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan
• C: Victor Wembanyama, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Charles Bassey

ESPN's Bobby Marks explained the salary cap implications of the deal for each team:

Here are the contracts going out in the SAS/SAC/CHI trade:

To San Antonio

🏀De'Aaron Fox: $34.8M, $37.1M, UFA 2026

*⃣Note: Fox is renegotiation and extension eligible in August

🏀Jordan McLaughlin: $2.1M, UFA 2026

To Chicago

🏀Tre Jones: $9.1M, UFA 2025

*⃣Note: Jones has a…

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 3, 2025

2 open roster spots in Sacramento

Plenty of flexibility below the tax

2 big trade exceptions pic.twitter.com/g5UAkKbkbI

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 3, 2025

Spotrac mapped out the future draft picks for the Spurs, Bulls and Kings after Sunday's blockbuster trade, though it should be noted that Chicago didn't receive any new picks in the deal.

Here are the first round picks that San Antonio has remaining:

Own: 6 of their next 7
Two unprotected from Atlanta (2025 and 2027)

Swap rights: Atlanta (2026)
Swap rights: Boston (2028, top-1 protected)
Swap rights: More favorable of Dallas and Minnesota (top-1 protected)…

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 3, 2025

The Kings' 3 new 1st round picks:

-2025 CHA (lottery-protected): Will likely not convey. It would convert into two 2nd round picks ('26 and '27).

-2029 SA: Likely not too valuable.

-2031 MIN: Lot of upside here. Will Edwards still be there? He would be an 11th-year vet.

— Jakob Ashlin (@JakobAshlin) February 3, 2025

The news comes as little surprise after LaVine had been included in trade rumors for nearly two years.

Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported in June of 2023, that the Bulls had been "quietly gauging" the market for trade interest in LaVine.

Additionally, Charania (who was with The Athletic at the time) and The Athletic's Darnell Mayberry reported in November 2023 that LaVine and the Bulls had "increased openness" about exploring a trade, adding that NBA teams "are probing the availability" of the veteran guard.

Charania added on The Rally at the time that the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers all had a "level of interest," and Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported in December that LaVine wanted to be moved to the Purple and Gold.

LaVine had spent the last six seasons of his career in Chicago alongside DeMar DeRozan. However, the duo only led the Bulls to one postseason appearance during their time together, which came during the 2021-22 season when they fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.

With the duo failing to get Chicago over the hump, it was clear the Bulls needed to make a change and perhaps enter a rebuild. That retooling began with the offloading of Alex Caruso in a deal for Josh Giddey of the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 21.

LaVine has been one of the best players in the NBA over his six-year career in Chicago, earning two All-Star selections. However, his $40-plus million annual salary doesn't match the performances he has put together over the last two seasons.

In 144 games between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, the UCLA product averaged 24.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists while shooting 48.1 percent from the floor and 38.2 percent from deep.

In 25 games during the 2023-24 season LaVine averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 45.2 percent from the floor and 34.9 percent from beyond the arc.

Through 42 games of the 2024-25 campaign, LaVine is averaging 24.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

LaVine underwent season-ending foot surgery last February and was ruled out for the remainder of the year, resulting in him playing less than half of the 2023-24 season. He appears to be back at full strength this year.

LaVine has three years remaining on his five-year, $215.2 million deal. A change of scenery should benefit the veteran, and the Kings will be hoping he lives up to the remainder of that contract.

It's no surprise LaVine now finds himself in Sacramento.

K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reported June 20 that the Kings were among the teams that Chicago had held LaVine trade discussions with this offseason. The Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers also had discussions for LaVine, Johnson added.

After falling to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2023 playoffs following a brilliant finish to the 2022-23 regular season (48-34), it became clear Sacramento needed to make some upgrades alongside Domantas Sabonis.

That only became more clear after Sacramento missed the postseason entirely in 2023-24. The team currently ranks 10th in the West with a 24-24 record.

Meanwhile, the Spurs will also be adding some star power by landing Fox.

The 27-year-old is averaging 25 points, five rebounds and 6.1 assists per game this season. He's shooting 46.9 percent from the floor.

Adding Fox gives San Antonio an exciting duo moving forward, as the deal now gives the team another piece around Wembanyama.

This move should give a boost to the Spurs' playoff chances, as they look to find a rhythm after a 21-25 start to the season.

Meanwhile, the Bulls—who sit at 21-29—will now look toward the future after moving on from LaVine.

The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.

The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.

The Chicago Bulls are reportedly keeping the possibility of a midseason shakeup in mind.

Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that the Bulls are "seeking change" and are listening to offers on forward Zach LaVine and center Nikola Vučević.

"Several executives who have spoken to the Bulls this month have described their motivation as 'seeking change,'" Bontemps and Windhorst wrote. "But what does that actually mean? The Bulls have also made it known they will take offers on both Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević, sources said, with LaVine being linked to various permutations of extremely complicated multiteam Butler trades and Vucevic being linked to the Warriors and others, according to our ESPN colleague Shams Charania."

The Bulls are currently 19-26 and sit in 10th in the Eastern Conference. This is good enough for the final play-in tournament spot but also could hold the team back from a higher draft pick that could help reset the roster.

LaVine is averaging 24 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 40 games for Chicago. He has been involved in trade rumors for years but reportedly prefers to remain with the Bulls instead of being dealt at the deadline, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. He is under contract through 2025-26 with a player option for 2026-27

Vučević is averaging 20.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 40 games in 2024-25 and is under contract through 2025-26.

In the latest round of the neverending Zach LaVine trade rumors, the two-time All-Star reportedly wants to stay with the Chicago Bulls for the remainder of this season.

Per NBA insider Jake Fischer, LaVine's preference is to remain in his current spot rather than being dealt prior to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

Fischer noted LaVine's name has recently popped up in multi-team scenarios that would help facilitate Jimmy Butler's trade away from the Miami Heat, but he's not pushing to be dealt even though that won't stop Chicago from moving him if the right offer comes along.

One other option floated by Fischer involved a LaVine-for-Bradley Beal trade.

"Sources say Phoenix, to name one example, could emerge with interest in exploring a swap of Bradley Beal for LaVine, sources said, depending on how the rest of the trade landscape develops in the coming weeks," Fischer wrote.

The latter scenario would seem like a non-starter because Beal has a full no-trade clause that allows him to control where he goes. There's been nothing connecting him to Chicago at this point.

In fact, Beal's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said on the record that rumors of his client being willing to waive his no-trade clause if he could go to the Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers were "created out of thin air."

LaVine has done a good job this season of shifting the narrative around him. He has long been regarded as an "empty stats" player whose individual box score looks good but has no real positive impact on winning games.

While the Bulls (19-26) still aren't a very good team, LaVine is hardly to blame for their struggles. He's averaging 24.0 points on 51.3 percent shooting, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

ESPN's Shams Charania noted on Wednesday that rival executives have "applauded" LaVine's performance, adding he has also impressed Bulls officials with his "professionalism and leadership" this season.

The same issues that have prevented LaVine from being traded in the past are still prevalent. He's making $43 million this season and $46 million next season, plus a $49 million player option for 2026-27.

As well as LaVine has played so far this season, that's a significant financial investment for any team to make for a player who has run hot and cold throughout his career. It's especially difficult to add those salaries with the new collective bargaining agreement restrictions that come if you pass the first or second aprons.

The best time for the Bulls to explore a LaVine trade would be the offseason when more teams have more cap flexibility to take advantage of while they try to maximize a return for the 29-year-old.

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball has come up in trade rumors as the Feb. 6 deadline draws nearer, but it sounds like the team has no plans of dealing him away.

The Athletic's Sam Vecenie dismissed the possibility of the Bulls trading Ball this season, noting that Chicago views him as a valuable member of the team.

"Why would he be potentially available? Ball is on an expiring contract worth $21.4 million before becoming an unrestricted free agent. The Bulls are thought to be very happy with Ball and love having him around the team for his presence in the locker room," Vecenie stated.

During an appearance on Hoops Tonight, The Athletic's Jovan Buha reported on Wednesday that the Los Angeles Lakers were eyeing Ball for a potential reunion with their 2017 No. 2 pick.

"I think Lonzo is someone that's going to be on their radar, and I think depending on the price if you could get him for a second or two seconds, I think that's an interesting swing," Buha stated.

However, Ball's impending free agency and injury history make it unlikely that a team would be willing to give up significant assets to acquire him.

"It's unclear whether Ball can play a full schedule," Vecenie added. "He has not played in back-to-backs this season and has yet to log more than 26 minutes in a single game (although it's worth that his minute load has gone up as the season has progressed). That probably points him toward being more of a high-impact bench player long-term."

The Chicago Bulls have received trade calls from other teams regarding Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

The Golden State Warriors are one of the teams "expressing interest" in Vučević, according to Charania.

LaVine and Vučević are the only players averaging at least 20 points per game in Chicago. At 19-25 and 10th in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls currently sit in range of a play-in spot, but a recent five-game losing streak could compel them to enter the Feb. 6 deadline as sellers.

LaVine is averaging 24.0 points per game on some of the most efficient shooting of his career, including a career-high 51.4 percent from the field and 45.0 percent from deep.

Vučević is meanwhile contributing 20.3 points per game, his highest total since his first full season with the Bulls in 2021-22, on similarly effective shooting (55.4 percent from the field, 41.1 percent from behind the arc.)

The Bulls have reportedly been seeking a trade for LaVine and his $215 million max contract almost since he signed the deal with the team in 2022.

His value could be at a high given his production and health this season, although any deal would still be complicated by his contract situation. As one Western Conference general manager told ESPN's Bobby Marks in December, his average salary of $43 million "boxes you into a corner on how we can add to the roster."

Vučević has a more movable contract, given that he is signed for just one more season at an average annual salary of $20 million, and Charania's report is not the first time he has been connected to the Warriors.

HoopsHype's Michael Scotto recently wrote that the Warriors are concentrated on improving their frontcourt before the trade deadline.

The Athletic's Anthony Slater meanwhile reported that Warriors have "talked plenty internally about the need for a center who makes 3s consistently" in order to space out the floor for Stephen Curry and create better matchups for Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga.

Both Scotto and Slater mentioned Vučević's name as a fit for these needs.

The Bulls are currently set to send their 2025 first-round draft pick to San Antonio as part of the 2021 DeMar DeRozan trade, but will get to keep the selection if they end up in the top 10. Bulls coach Billy Donovan recently said the team's goal is not to be "just stuck in the middle."

If the Bulls decide postseason contention is an unrealistic goal, moving out LaVine and Vučević while their trade value is high and accruing future assets in return could set them on course for a busy draft in April.

Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball is enjoying a fantastic breakout season, and that certainly has gotten the attention of his oldest brother, Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball, who praised his rise in the league.

"A little surreal just seeing how far he's come," Lonzo Ball said Friday, per Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic.

Ball is averaging 29.5 points, 7.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game in his fifth NBA season. He's leading all Eastern Conference guards in All-Star voting and looks well on pace for All-NBA team honors as well should he meet the 65-game minimum for end-of-season awards.

On Friday, LaMelo's Hornets defeated Lonzo's Bulls, 125-123. It was the first time the two faced each other on an NBA court since Nov. 2021 with Lonzo Ball missing nearly three years due to left knee ailments and surgeries. Ball finished with 26 points and nine rebounds to lead Charlotte.

LaMelo has enjoyed great success ever since entering the league in 2020. He earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2020-21 and made the All-Star Game the following year.

Injuries held him to just 58 games combined over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, but he shined when healthy, posting 23.5 points, 8.3 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game.

Now he's fully breaking out in year five, though, as he's developed into one of the league's top young stars.