According to reports, Jazz inquired in trade for this former All-Star.
According to an NBC Sports Chicago story, the Chicago Bulls have reached out to 15 clubs about making a trade for former All-Star shooting guard Zach LaVine, including the Utah Jazz.
Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas has reportedly “floated as many as 15 proposals centered on the two-time All-Star guard to various teams, including the Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers,” according to a report published by Bulls Insider K.C. Johnson on Thursday.
All of this is a part of the Bulls’ offseason strategy to “lay everything on the table,” following two seasons without a postseason appearance.
With a wealth of assets that ESPN’s Bobby Marks recently ranked among the best in the league, the Jazz were in a unique position to be able to win a sweepstakes including LaVine, should that be their goal.
Naturally, LaVine is still a Bull, which CBS Sports’ Jasmyn Wimbish pointed out is proof that neither the Jazz nor the other 14 teams Chicago approached were pleased with the trade proposal.
With a wealth of assets that ESPN’s Bobby Marks recently ranked among the best in the league, the Jazz were in a unique position to be able to win a sweepstakes including LaVine, should that be their goal.
Naturally, LaVine is still a Bull, which CBS Sports’ Jasmyn Wimbish pointed out is proof that neither the Jazz nor the other 14 teams Chicago approached were pleased with the trade proposal.
With a wealth of assets that ESPN’s Bobby Marks recently ranked among the best in the league, the Jazz were in a unique position to be able to win a sweepstakes including LaVine, should that be their goal.
Naturally, LaVine is still a Bull, which CBS Sports’ Jasmyn Wimbish pointed out is proof that neither the Jazz nor the other 14 teams Chicago approached were pleased with the trade proposal.
Danny Ainge, the CEO of basketball operations for Utah, did mention at the conclusion of the regular season that the Jazz are planning to go “big game hunting” in the offseason following their two consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs. Owner Ryan Smith has expressed his desire to take home a championship as soon as possible on several occasions.
If healthy, LaVine would be a huge addition. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard has shown himself to be an electric scorer on par with an All-Star, as evidenced by the 2022–2023 season, in which he averaged 24.8 points per game while shooting 48% from the field and almost 38% from three-point range.
Naturally, LaVine has suffered from severe ailments in recent seasons, and the contract he signed guarantees him over $40 million a year for the following three seasons.
ESPN made the following trade prediction for Utah involving LaVine:
In exchange for Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, and a 2025 first-round lottery pick (from Utah via Cleveland), guards Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso are traded from Chicago to Utah.
However, as of Thursday afternoon, that trade notion was out of date, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Bulls had dealt Caruso to Oklahoma City in exchange for forward Josh Giddey.
