SUMMARY
- USA Basketball released a list of 41 players invited to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
- Zach LaVine is currently viewed as a distressed asset in the trade market, with teams expressing hesitancy to acquire him.
It’s that time of the year when the entire league is occupied with two most important happenings. The foremost is the approaching NBA 2024 trade deadline, and the second is the 2024 Paris Olympics. USA Basketball released a list on January 23, 2024, entailing invites to 41 players. This is disheartening news for Zach LaVine fans, as his name is not on the list.
A Chicago Bulls player recently made it to the pool of 41 players. Instead of LaVine, his teammate, Alex Caruso, is invited and is planning to make a cut for the 12-man squad. It’s worth noting that the list is subject to change; however, with such a slumping record, LaVine has very few chances to make it. One can take a hint at the worsening situation as the trade market is not even eager to acquire LaVine anymore.
#Bulls Zach LaVine does NOT get invited to the pool of 41 players to try out for the 2024 Olympics team. pic.twitter.com/U2cDLYOO8Y
— Die-Hard Chicago Bulls Fans (@DieHardCBfans) January 23, 2024
Per Matt Moore of Action Network, “LaVine is seen as a distressed asset on account of his play style, injury history, and, most importantly, (a) contract that takes him through 2026.” Even the Los Angeles Lakers, who were eyeing LaVine as the perfect guard, have taken a U-turn on the trade prospect. The foremost reason for such a turn of events is his defensive deficiencies.
The high-flying point guard is unable to make a two-way impact. Instead, he is just a pure scorer, and teams are hesitant to trade him as a No. 3 option. The tepid trade market has everything to do with his sluggish performance lately. On top of that, per the recent ankle injury, he will be out for a couple of weeks. LaVine also has a player option in the 2026–27 season that he most certainly will exercise.
That’s a hefty amount of money for an injury-prone player who is a pure scorer. However, his performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was a sight to behold.
Zach LaVine was a valuable sixth man in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Zach was a member of the 12-man squad that represented the USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The team went on to set a 5-1 record and sweep the fourth straight gold medal at the Olympic Games. Although LaVine just started one of the six games, he had a presence as a stable sixth man in the other five. He recorded an average of 9.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in those six games.
He shot 21-of-35 field goals, 10-of-22 three-pointers, and 6-of-7 free throws in total. However, the 28-year-old guard might not enjoy the honor of joining the squad this time. Although the guard was eager to bag another gold, the possibility for the event seems bleak as of now.