The relationship between Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls appears to be at an all-time low. As many members of the basketball community should be aware, LaVine is a star for the Bulls and has been on the team for the past 7 years. Veteran fans will remember that the Bulls acquired him back in 2017 through a trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Although LaVine has been with the Chicago Bulls for almost a decade, the team has not seen a lot of success with him at the forefront. This is despite the fact that the Bulls’ management made several upgrades to the roster and brought in players such as DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, Alex Caruso, and Lonzo Ball.
Now that we are just a little over 20 games into the 2023-2024 NBA season, the current state of the Chicago Bulls is quite an interesting subject of discussion. That said, let us take a closer look and find out more.
Are the Chicago Bulls better without Zach LaVine?
There is no getting around the fact that the Bulls have started off this season quite badly. After having played 22 games so far, the team currently holds a record of 8 wins and 14 losses, giving them the 12th spot in the Eastern Conference. That means the Bulls would miss the playoffs if the season ended today.
More interestingly, an interesting statistic indicates that the Chicago Bulls have been losing a lot more when Zach LaVine was on the court as opposed to when they played without him. This must certainly confuse NBA fans since Zach is a certified star in the league and one of the best players on the Bulls.
The Bulls record with Zach LaVine: 5-13
The Bulls record without Zach LaVine: 3-1 pic.twitter.com/Q2xVFHKKhs
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 7, 2023
Despite his performances for his team over the years, LaVine might just get traded away if the Bulls don’t find a lot of success with him on the court. In the event that Chicago tried to trade him, one must wonder what they could hope to get in return.
What could the Bulls get in return for Zach?
Since LaVine is on a 5-year contract worth around $215 million, the Bulls are in no rush to trade him and are likely looking for the best possible trade package. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many shooting guards in the league that are better than Zach currently in the trade market.
The best move for the Bulls at this point in time would be to wait and view the landscape for other teams across the league. If Chicago is willing to give up additional players alongside LaVine, they might just be able to land a troubled star such as Klay Thompson. We look forward to seeing how the Bulls handle their situation with LaVine moving forward.