SUMMARY
- The Detroit Pistons have emerged as favorites to acquire Zach LaVine in the NBA trade market.
- The Pistons are actively engaged in discussions with the Bulls about a potential deal for LaVine.
In the NBA trade market, the Detroit Pistons have reportedly emerged as favorites to acquire Zach LaVine, the Chicago Bulls’ two-time All-Star. The Pistons surprised everyone earlier this week by showing interest in LaVine, as other league contenders were not.
James Edwards III of The Athletic recently reported that the Pistons are in active conversations with the Bulls about LaVine. The Pistons, currently struggling at the bottom of the league standings see LaVine as a major addition to help their offense and provide support to franchise player Cade Cunningham.
This deal would be beneficial for the Bulls as well as they look to restructure the team. Moving LaVine to Detroit could give them a fresh start and an opportunity to clear a massive amount of cap space. The trade would also allow the Bulls to focus on developing younger talents like Coby White.
The Pistons are the current favorites to land Zach LaVine before the trade deadline.
The #Bulls Trade: Zach LaVine & Jevon Carter
The #Piston Trade: Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart, Bojan Bogdanovi, 2025 Top 3 protected pick pic.twitter.com/h8Z0Csdcup
— Die-Hard Chicago Bulls Fans (@DieHardCBfans) January 27, 2024
If a trade actually happens between the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons, it could greatly change the dynamics of both teams. According to rumors, the trade might involve the Bulls sending Zach LaVine and Jevon Carter to Detroit. In return, the Pistons could offer a package including Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart, Bojan Bogdanovic, and a 2025 top-3 protected pick.
What would a trade of Zach LaVine to the Detroit Pistons look like?
For the Pistons, acquiring LaVine would mean adding a star player to their lineup and creating a strong duo with Cade Cunningham. LaVine ranked 13th in the NBA last season in terms of true shooting percentage (60.7%) among players who played at least ten games and had a usage rate of at least 27%.
The Bulls, on the other hand, would have more flexibility in their roster and salary cap. The acquisition of a floor-spacing veteran like Bogdanovic and talented young players such as Ivey and Thompson would add new energy to the team.
However, the trade discussions appear to have hit a bump. According to Marc Stein, the Pistons have established four of their young players as off-limits in ongoing trade discussions: Cunningham, Duren, Ivey, and rookie Thompson. This stance could complicate the deal, especially given the Bulls’ unwillingness to lower their asking price for LaVine.
The complexity of the negotiations and the different objectives of both teams could either make or break this high-profile trade deal. As the trade deadline comes near, we have to see where LaVine will continue his career.