Chicago Bulls

The contract of Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine may prevent the Sacramento Kings from heavily pursuing a trade.

According to Anthony Slater and Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Kings need to be "incentivized" to add him in a trade. LaVine has three seasons left on a five-year, $215 million extension that he signed in 2022 (via Spotrac). This includes a $48.9 million player option for his 2026-27 campaign.

Slater and Amick also noted that Sacramento still has "some level of interest" in acquiring LaVine.

Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer reported on Friday that the Kings were the "most likely" suitor for LaVine, as they've been "active" in exploring trade opportunities involving Harrison Barnes and Kevin Huerter.

After making consecutive All-Star appearances for the Bulls in 2021 and 2022, the 29-year-old was unable to lead Chicago to a playoff appearance in 2023 before suiting up in a mere 25 games during the 2023-24 season due to foot and ankle injuries.

In his 25 appearances, LaVine averaged 19.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game on 45.2/34.9/85.4 shooting splits. He recorded just 3.9 assists each night, representing the lowest mark since his 2017-18 campaign.

It's not difficult to see why the Kings aren't interested in moving a large amount of assets to acquire LaVine given his declining production, injury issues, and contract. Sacramento also has a shooting guard on a long-term deal after bringing back Sixth Man of the Year finalist Malik Monk on a four-year contract worth $78 million.

As for the Bulls, they appear to be on the verge of a rebuild after trading defensive-minded guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for 21-year-old Josh Giddey.

A potential LaVine trade to the Kings doesn't appear to be off the table by any means, but there are still some hoops to jump through.

The Chicago Bulls are interested in re-signing veteran center Andre Drummond in free agency, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Drummond has spent the last two seasons in Chicago, accepting a player option worth $3.36 million to return to the team during the 2023 offseason.

Although he's transitioned to a bench role after leading the league in rebounding throughout four separate seasons in his career, he's remained effective as a reserve. During his 2023-24 campaign, Drummond averaged 8.4 points and 9.0 rebounds in just 17.1 minutes per game in his 79 appearances.

The 30-year-old has spoken about his excitement for his impending free agency, but he didn't rule out a return to the Bulls.

"I'm excited to see what happens in the offseason," Drummond said on Feb. 20, per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. "Whatever team sees me as an asset, I'm ready. Obviously, I'm here now and I love it here. I would love to be here still."

The feeling appears to be mutual, as the Bulls removed themselves from trade discussions involving Drummond ahead of the Feb. 8 deadline. Scotto previously reported that the Philadelphia 76ers nearly traded for the big man before Chicago pulled out of talks just "hours before the deadline."

The Bulls may be pivoting towards a younger roster ahead of the 2024-25 season after trading Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for 21-year-old guard Josh Giddey on Thursday.

However, Drummond's rebounding and veteran presence off the bench may be too valuable for Chicago's front office to part ways with.

After the Chicago Bulls traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in return for Josh Giddey, NBA insiders are questioning whether star forward DeMar DeRozan will remain with the team in free agency this offseason.

"One of the loudest questions bouncing around the league at the minute is thus: Will DeRozan be more available in free agency than expected now once the marketplace officially opens on June 30 at 6 PM ET?" NBA insider March Stein wrote. "Likewise: Will DeRozan even want to return to the Bulls?"

DeRozan, 35, will be a free agent this offseason after three seasons in Chicago. In May, it was reported DeRozan was expected to re-sign with the Bulls, but the trade for Giddey could have impacted his original plans.

The Bulls, who made their first trade since August 2021 when they dealt Caruso, seem to be leaning towards a rebuild after acquiring Giddey. They sacrificed one of the best perimeter defenders in the league for a younger, less defensively inclined player of the same position.

The move didn't make Chicago better in the short term, but it could pay off if Giddey pans out the way the team hopes he will.

It's not clear whether the Bulls are fully leaning into a rebuild just yet, but it leaves DeRozan with a tough decision to make this summer.

On the one hand, he could stay in Chicago and remain the team's star veteran as they navigate a rebuild. On the other hand, he could depart for a team ready to compete for a championship now. It's hard to imagine DeRozan, who will be 35 at the start of the 2024-25 season, is willing to wait out a rebuild at this stage in his career.

DeRozan averaged 24 points, 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds for the Bulls last season and could be of great use to a team looking to add another piece to compete for the Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat are just a few teams that could benefit from a player like DeRozan.

Unless Chicago makes a drastic move this offseason that shows it is ready to compete for a championship now, DeRozan might likely head elsewhere in free agency in search of his first ring.

The Utah Jazz may not have significant interest in Zach LaVine.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported that interest from the Jazz should be "dismissed" and that the Bulls are having a difficult time finding a market for LaVine.

"League sources say Philadelphia continues to have little interest in LaVine and I have likewise been advised to dismiss Utah's reported interest," Stein wrote. "The Bulls, remember, had trouble generating a market for LaVine when they could have attached Caruso to trade constructions. That option, obviously, no longer exists."

The Bulls have reportedly been trying to unload LaVine for some time now. He was a hot topic in trade discussions last offseason, and those continued during the 2023-24 season.

He did not see too much game action in 2023-24, suiting up in just 25 games after going down with an ankle injury that ended his season in January. He averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists during his short season.

He has two years remaining on his current contract, and he also has a player option for the 2026-27 season. He carries a cap hit of $43 million for the 2024-25 season.

Utah went 31-51 in 2023-24 and missed the postseason for the second consecutive season. LaVine could potentially help the Jazz turn it around, but it doesn't look like the franchise is willing to take on his contract at this moment.

The Sacramento Kings are reportedly the most likely suitor to trade for Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine.

Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported LaVine is "merely a backup option" for the Philadelphia 76ers, who are armed with max cap space to find a third star to play with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

LaVine is a natural fit offensively next to Maxey in the backcourt, but the Sixers are expected to prioritize two-way players given the offensive firepower of the Embiid-Maxey duo. While he's not the turnstile he was early in his career, LaVine is still not a quality defender on the perimeter.

The Bulls are expected to explore LaVine's market this summer, but it's unclear how much of a market he will have. LaVine is due $89 million over the next two seasons and has a $49 million player option for 2026-27.

An All-Star in 2021 and 2022, LaVine has missed the team each of the last two seasons and has never been an All-NBA selection. He's coming off an injury-riddled campaign that saw him average just 19.5 points per game, his lowest total since 2017-18.

While that's nothing to sneeze at, 38 players averaged at least 20 points per game last season. It's not exactly a ringing endorsement when a player wouldn't rank in the top 40 among scorers when his top asset is scoring prowess.

Still, the Kings may have some interest in buying low if LaVine can be had for little return. They could offer a package centered around Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes and a couple future draft picks, and it's likely better than anything else the Bulls would be able to get.

Whether Chicago would be willing to accept that type of deal is another question entirely.

The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly not interested in Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine, per PHLY Sports' Kyle Neubeck.

The report of the 76ers' disinterest comes amid a recent push for the Bulls to find a deal for LaVine. Chicago executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas has reportedly "floated as many as 15 proposals" for LaVine, one of which was to Philadelphia.

The Bulls traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey on Thursday, marking the team's first trade since August 2021.

LaVine, who just finished his 10th NBA season and seventh with the Bulls, was involved in trade rumors throughout the season, but Chicago never found a deal for him. In January, it was reported the market for LaVine was "so rough" that the Bulls would have needed to add more players or picks to a potential deal.

After suffering a season-ending ankle injury in the second half of the season, his trade value might have gone down even further.

Limited to just 25 games last season, LaVIne averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists. His scoring average during the 2023-24 season was his lowest since his first year in Chicago in 2017-18.

Assuming he can get a full season under his belt, LaVine could still be a valuable offensive asset for a number of teams at just 29 years old. For the 76ers, he's just not who they are looking for this offseason.

The Oklahoma City Thunder acquired defensive-minded guard Alex Caruso on Thursday, sending former first-round pick Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in return.

Caruso has established himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, making the All-Defensive Second Team in 2024.

Following the move, Oklahoma City now has just over $173.3 million in total cap allocations while the Bulls have roughly $219.4 million in cap allocations (via Spotrac).

Here's a look at the current depth charts for the Thunder and the Bulls after the deal was made.

Chicago Bulls Projected Depth Chart

PG: Coby White, Josh Giddey, Lonzo Ball, Ayo Dosunmu, Jevon Carter

SG: Zach LaVine, Ayo Dosunmu, Josh Giddey, Dalen Terry, Onuralp Bitim

SF: Patrick Williams, Javonte Green, Dalen Terry, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine

PF: DeMar DeRozan, Torrey Craig, Javonte Green, Patrick Williams, Dalen Terry

C: Nikola Vucevic, Andre Drummond, Adama Sanogo

Oklahoma City Thunder Projected Depth Chart

PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, Adam Flagler

SG: Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace, Lindy Waters III, Aaron Wiggins

SF: Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Gordon Hayward, Isaiah Joe, Alex Caruso

PF: Jalen Williams, Kenrich Williams, Gordon Hayward, Ousmane Dieng, Aaron Wiggins

C: Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams, Mike Muscala, Bismack Biyombo

According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Oklahoma City is now projected to have $31.5 million in cap space following the Caruso acquisition. Chicago is still above to cap after the deal, although the front office will have access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception of $12.9 million and the bi-annual exception of $4.7 million in free agency (per Marks).

After the Thunder lost their second-round series against the Dallas Mavericks' star backcourt consisting of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, Caruso should help shore up head coach Mark Daigneault's point-of-attack defense.

The 30-year-old is coming off a strong year with Chicago, averaging a career-high 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He connected on 40.8 percent of his three-point attempts while recording 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks each night.

After the Bulls' win total has decreased in each season following their playoff appearance in 2022, the front office may be heading towards a youth-focused approach around Coby White following his breakout season.

Giddey is coming off a 2023-24 campaign in which he averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game in 80 starts. He still struggled from behind the arc although he shot 47.5 percent from the field and hit a career-high 80.6 percent of his free throws.

With a large amount of cap space remaining, the Thunder should continue to have a busy offseason following the Caruso trade.

The NBA trade market is officially open for business.

The Chicago Bulls traded guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Thunder acquired Caruso with the hope to sign him to a contract extension, Wojnarowski added.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the trade did not include any draft compensation and was a "straight-up swap."

The 6'4" guard just finished his seventh NBA season after spending four campaigns with the Los Angeles Lakers and three with the Bulls. He averaged 10.1 points on 46.8 percent shooting (40.8 percent from three), 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals.

Chicago loaded up prior to the 2021-22 season, with the team adding DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Nikola Vučević to a roster that already included Zach LaVine. It rounded out the roster with players like Caruso, who joined the team on a four-year, $37 million contract through the 2024-25 season.

Unfortunately, injuries and disappointing play have contributed to the Bulls falling short of expectations.

Ball has only played 35 games in a Bulls uniform (and none in the past two seasons) as he works his way back from a lingering left knee injury stemming from a bone bruise and a torn left meniscus suffered in January 2022. LaVine also dealt with a left knee injury in 2021-22 that led to offseason surgery.

DeRozan, LaVine, Vučević and Caruso were available for the majority of the 2022-23 season, but the Bulls didn't get it going. They finished fifth in defensive efficiency but 24th on the offensive end, per Basketball-Reference.

Chicago ended the season 40-42 and lost to the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament. The Bulls kept their core, though, in hopes of improving. That didn't happen, though, with the team falling in the play-in tournament again following a 39-43 season.

Rumors on some key pieces were swirling during the season.

In regards to Caruso, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported on Jan. 24 that the team would need "multiple first-round picks" in return for Caruso to even think about moving him. Apparently the price changed.

Giddey, 21, averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in the 2023-24 season, shooting 33.7 percent from three. His points, rebounds and assists were all down from the 2022-23 season, and the Thunder clearly felt his upside was capped on their current roster.

Caruso will give them a solid two-way role player, while the Bulls can begin rebuilding around younger talent. Given that Zach LaVine reportedly is also very much on the trade block, the Bulls appear to be retooling this summer.

Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas has "floated as many as 15 proposals" centered around guard Zach LaVine, according to NBC Sports Chicago's K.C. Johnson.

Johnson cited the Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers as teams to whom Karnišovas reached out. Johnson later added the Utah Jazz as a team involved in trade talks.

Answering a fan question about the two-time All-Star's future, Johnson wrote on May 31 how "this is like a relationship that has run its course" and that "the desire from both sides to make a change has grown."

To that end, Chicago's asking price for LaVine has reportedly "dropped significantly." How much that will help to facilitate a trade remains to be seen.

Last September, Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer reported "there just doesn't seem to be a robust market for LaVine's services," and that remained the case months into the season.

Then the 29-year-old underwent season-ending foot surgery in February, further eroding his trade value.

In his seven years with the Bulls, LaVine has averaged 24.2 points on 47.1 percent shooting, including 38.3 percent on three-pointers. He'd potentially be a dynamic secondary scorer on a playoff contender.

The trouble is, he's owed $138 million over the next three seasons, assuming he picks up his 2026-27 option, and that's a lot of money when he's arguably not a max player in terms of what he brings to the court.

In addition, LaVine's foot surgery played into the existing concerns over his durability. He has exceeded 70-plus games played just once since 2015-16.

The Bulls can probably find a taker for the 6'5" guard if they're resigned to this being a salary dump rather than something that can meaningfully improve the roster in the short term.

Based on Johnson's newest report, other teams are well aware of how desperate the front office is to move on, though.