by Jayden Lawrence
Zach Lavine is a two-time all-star guard-forward for the Chicago Bulls, yet he seems to be in trade conversations weekly. It only makes sense, considering fans are desperate to make it deep in playoffs. Lavine’s loyalty has been tested, his gameplay criticized and his time in Minnesota ended in betrayal. He, Kris Dunn, and the draft rights for Lauri Markkanen were traded to Chicago for Jimmy Butler and a raffle-prize player in 2017. (Fun fact, in 2021, that player was 7-footer Justin Patton who led the Israeli Basketball Premier League in blocks per game).
Since then, Lavine has rolled with the Bulls. Aside from 2018, when the Sacramento Kings openly explored his free-agent status, Lavine has undoubtedly been a key piece to Chicago’s offense. The Bulls have also been behind him, considering they matched the Sacramento offer in 2018. In July of 2022, though, the Bulls made a franchise-binding decision, signing Lavine to the supermax until 2027.
Marc Eversley and the staff pondered resigning Lavine to the supermax during a league-wide boom of max contracts, and it seemed the decision was good for both parties. Lavine delivered in the postseason against the Bucks averaging six assists and 19 points per game in the starting guard role, stating he was willing to stay. The only thing to worry about was his injury status. Since 2017, injuries have plagued him; no player has had more injuries in this timespan on the Bulls. Lavine ultimately resigned, and in 2024, he returned from constant injuries to a team that seemingly can’t find its culture. Unfortunately, this has become his legacy.
As he continues to be the subject of trade speculation, let’s explore my top five possible landing spots for Lavine, with some honorable mentions. Keep in mind that multiple teams can trade to even out this deal; this is only if Chicago negotiates with one organization. Also, I see Vucevic being moved, specifically in one of these deals.
Honorable Mentions: Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets
I included these five teams because they can make the moves, but I don’t think they’re the top five destinations. These teams would be exciting, but that’s just that.
The media projects the Lakers to acquire every player. Remember that Eversley would hopefully be in discussions regarding this move, and the Lakers are not an unknown team regarding decision-making.
Nuggets have always been a home-grown, shadow-like team, while the Mavericks just reached the NBA Finals. Yes, they looked like they were missing a piece, but I don’t know if they’re still looking to integrate more confusion into the ball-dominant guard starting lineup.
I believe the Pacers big three would be exciting and help Indiana in a confusing Central Division, but moving Nembhard to the bench or within this trade is unnecessary chemistry-wise, especially as they’re still figuring out Siakam’s worth. As well, the Bulls don’t want to give the Pacers more of a chance to win the division and compete with the Celtics and Knicks unless they were unloading and moving toward the future, but there are better teams to trade within the division.
I like the idea of the Nets trading big here, but Chicago would hate whatever deal is made. The best-case scenario is Cameron Johnson and some combination of players and picks. Although it’s more likely that if this deal were truly to unload a heavy contract, Ben Simmons and some picks would be key pieces to balance this out.
#5: San Antonio Spurs
Attention. That’s the word to describe this move. The Spurs are a storied franchise with a rich history of big men dominating the paint, from David Robinson to Tim Duncan and Victor Wembanyama. Adding Zach Lavine would provide an outside scoring punch that the Spurs are missing. Wembanyama’s presence in the paint requires constant attention, and having Lavine as a perimeter threat would open up so many opportunities for both players. He could operate as the primary scorer, while Wembanyama can focus on dominating inside.
Chris Paul can set up both Lavine and Wembanyama for easy buckets. We’re seeing Lavine play stronger due to Josh Giddey’s passing efficiency, but he’s always been around elite playmakers and scorers. In San Antonio, Lavine would be the second option behind Wembanyama, but he would still have the freedom to play his game and create opportunities for himself and others. No offense to Nikola Vucevic, but he doesn’t rebound like Wemby, and Lavine could thrive in a system where he’s surrounded by a defensive-minded group that lets him operate more freely on offense.
Additionally, this move could send some young players and potential high draft picks to the Bulls in exchange, accelerating their rebuild while giving the Spurs a chance to compete for a playoff spot sooner than expected. San Antonio is a team to watch, and this trade would turn them into an intriguing contender in the Western Conference. My hesitations are health-related, and it’s unknown if the Spurs would continue tanking in the stacked west to build bench depth.
#4: Detroit Pistons
Not too far away, Detroit could be an ideal destination for Zach Lavine. The Pistons have struggled for years, but they’re starting to build something with Cade Cunningham as their centerpiece. Cunningham needs some help, and Lavine could be the perfect complement to his skill set. Lavine’s scoring ability, both off the dribble and as a catch-and-shoot option, could take the pressure off Cunningham and help him elevate his game.
Detroit plays a gritty interior style, relying on physicality and defense to control the game. They have some solid young pieces in Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, both of whom provide toughness and rebounding in the paint. Tobias Harris, a veteran forward, could also play an important role in guiding this team while adding scoring punch. However, I think Jaden Ivey or Tim Hardaway Jr. would do wonders as a sixth man, creating more depth and versatility for Detroit.
The Pistons are still figuring things out, but adding Lavine would be a big step forward in their rebuild. They’re ahead of the Bulls in the division, which is confusing based on their interest in Cooper Flagg, who’ll surely go #1 in the next draft. Detroit has cap space and assets to make this kind of trade happen, and Lavine could be the player who helps get them back on the map.
#3: Orlando Magic
Orlando is a team with so much upside. Paolo Banchero looks generational in a way that he could change the landscape of the Eastern Conference for years to come. Banchero’s combination of size, skill, and vision has the potential to form the core of Orlando’s playoff-caliber team.
Adding Lavine to the mix could elevate their ceiling, especially with his scoring ability and experience. The Magic are already set with a young, talented core, and adding a proven scorer like Lavine could give them the push they need.
While Cole Anthony has potential, he may be better suited as a role-player in Orlando’s deep roster. Yes, he’s shown flashes of brilliance, but he’s not the type of player who can carry an offense or space the floor at a high level. The Magic are in a position to add another big name to their lineup, and Lavine would fit seamlessly with Banchero and Franz Wagner, giving them a legitimate scoring threat on the wing and a dynamic guard who can create his own shot. And who doesn’t want to play in Orlando? It’s way too cold in Illinois, and Orlando offers a great lifestyle with year-round sunshine, no state income tax, and a team on the rise.
#2: Miami Heat
The Miami squad is another ideal destination for Lavine. Miami, like Orlando, offers a great lifestyle with warm weather, vibrant culture, and no state income tax while being built for success. With Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, the Heat have established themselves as a true contender in the East. However, they’ve been missing a solid second-option scorer.
Lavine could be the final piece Miami needs to become a true championship contender. His ability to score from all offensive locations would make Miami’s offense more dynamic. He would bring an element of athleticism and scoring versatility that they currently lack. His ability to create his own shot would help stretch defenses and open up opportunities for Butler and Adebayo, who are better when they have space to work. Also, former top six MVP candidate Kevin Love, and rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., come from Lavine’s alma mater, UCLA.
Last, Lavine has an unintended history with Jimmy Butler, considering the old trade that sent him from Minnesota to Chicago. The two have never played together, but this trade would give them the opportunity to build a relationship. With Butler aging and Miami’s championship window closing, adding Lavine would improve their title aspirations, making them a force to be reckoned with in the East.
#1: Milwaukee Bucks
Hear me out. I’ve done the NBA trade machine with this, and if the Bucks let go of Brook Lopez, who’s been in the league since Barack Obama was elected and has been in Milwaukee since 2018, they can take on the enhanced salary of Zach Lavine. Lopez only has one year left on his contract, so this would be the time to acquire him. The cap space freed up through this deal would create an opportunity for the Bulls to sign a huge free agent in the summer after tanking for Flagg.
Their next move after securing Lopez would be predicated on moving Vucevic. Understandably, you never want to trade within the same conference, let alone the same division, but I like this trade on both sides. Milwaukee has a lot of minimum-contracted young guys. They need a star to balance Giannis and Dame while Middleton is out. They have Taurean Prince starting, so they’re desperate.
The Bulls have to consider the idea of taking on lesser-talented players with expiring contracts and not being locked into a rough Lavine contract so they can move the franchise forward. They have options with Zach Lavine, but it all depends on what they see in their future and how they want to get there.
