Bulls Could Find Zach LaVine Trade Partner in Magic Amid NBA Rumors, Lakers Links | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Amid the disappointment of another underwhelming Chicago Bulls season was the continued conversation of a potential Zach LaVine trade.

At one point, both the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers were linked to LaVine, per The Athletic's Shams Charania.

A loss of momentum for a deal, nagging injuries, and the enormity of LaVine's contract (three years, $137.8 million remaining), ensured that the shooting guard would not be moved.

As the 2023-24 season nears its end, the Bulls star's name is once again at the center of discussions for switching jerseys.

Former Bulls writer and insider Scott Smith wrote on NBA.com that LaVine could provide the shooting that the Orlando Magic desperately needs to realistically content in the Eastern Conference.

"Zach could provide that, and Orlando showed they need a third scoring option. But also like with the Phoenix Suns they most need a point/facilitating guard. The Magic has a cart load of cap space and could absorb a lot of Zach's contract, which I assume would be the Bulls dream scenario assuming moving Zach is the offseason priority, which is the common wisdom in most media reports."

He continued:

"I think Zach with his shooting and athletic style would fit with them and greatly elevate a team like Orlando, and I think they'd still have a chance to add that veteran point guard to run things a bit, a Mike Conley-lite type. But with finally making the playoffs, they've been deliberate and don't face much pressure to improve dramatically next season and probably will try to wait for Anthony Black and add like you speculate around the edges of Banchero and Wagner."

Smith makes a compelling point. As the Magic proved in their opening round loss to Cleveland, the team does need a third shooter to keep pace in the conference and, despite what can only be classified as a down season for LaVine, he still provided that for a so-so Bulls team.

He shot 45.2 percent from the paint and 34.9 from beyond the arc, for a total of 19.5 points per game in 34.9 minutes.

The two biggest questions at play are whether LaVine would be truly healthy and if the Magic would want to absorb that mammoth contract, regardless of whether they can afford it from a salary cap perspective or not.

Especially when Klay Thompson, a future Hall of Famer with four NBA titles and a track record far more proven than that of LaVine, will likely be available this off-season, has already been linked to the Magic, and the team and player have mutual interest in each other.

One thing is for certain: the Bulls need to find a way to move LaVine.

Too much attention was paid to the drama surrounding the situation a season ago and not enough to what was actually happening on the court.

The Bulls owe it to Coby White, who had the best season of his career in 2023-24, and DeMar DeRozan, who has been adamant about his desire to return to the team, to proceed with a deal, even if the team has to eat some of the contract to make it happen.

The players, the fans have waited too long for a return to form in the Windy City and with White playing as well as he did, and DeRozan providing leadership in a season in which the team needed it, reintroducing the drama and uncertainty surrounding the status of a star player like LaVine will only hamper efforts to be a legitimate contender in an already packed Eastern Conference.

Is LaVine still potentially valuable to the Bulls on the court?

Absolutely, but so much discussion was had among fans, insiders, reporters, and LaVine himself that it feels as though it is too late to put that proverbial genie back in the lamp. Make the deal with Orlando, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and any other team that may decide to take a flier on the talented guard, and move on more focused and determined than ever to be relevant in the NBA again.