While no one is strongly convinced that a Zach LaVine trade will happen imminently, discussions about a potential deal are still ongoing. NBC Sports Chicago insider K.C. Johnson, though not overly optimistic about a LaVine trade, identified two teams to watch: the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors.
Speaking on the Bulls Talk Podcast, Johnson mentioned that these two franchises are “still having conversations” with Chicago about a possible LaVine deal.
“I’ve been led to believe that there are still two teams — again, everything’s fluid. This is Monday morning. I’ve been led to believe that there are two teams that are still at least having conversations with a glimmer of hope, however you want to phrase it,” Johnson said. “I don’t want to be aggregated poorly. I’m just grasping for the best way to phrase it myself. What I will say is I’ve written the Kings and Warriors …. those are the two teams I’m still monitoring.”
Johnson also emphasized that there remains a scenario where LaVine could return to the Bulls if a suitable trade cannot be found.
“But we said all along, it may not happen and I gained some traction on this podcast by saying there is a scenario in which Zach LaVine returns, and that scenario is the Bulls can’t find a trade for him. So we’ll see how it plays out. It is fluid but, yes, it is still an organizational priority to try to trade Zach LaVine.”
Johnson noted that LaVine did not request a trade last year, but his representatives suggested the team consider shopping him if they continue to struggle.
The Kings and Warriors appear logical landing spots for LaVine. Sacramento, aiming to stay competitive in the tough Western Conference, would benefit from adding a scorer like LaVine to boost their offense. The Warriors, dealing with the departure of Klay Thompson, need to find a way to enhance their roster. With players like Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, Golden State has some options, but after barely making the NBA Play-In Tournament last season and getting eliminated by the Kings, they need more offensive firepower alongside Stephen Curry.
