West Powerhouse Drops Out of Running for Zach LaVine Trade

The 2024-25 NBA season is just under three months away and Zach LaVine is still a member of the Chicago Bulls. The veteran sharpshooter has been involved in trade rumors since the NBA offseason began (and even dating back to the trade deadline), however, nobody has come forth with an offer good enough to convince Bulls general manager Marc Eversley to pull the trigger.

Several teams have been rumored as potential destinations, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, and Sacramento Kings. It's only natural that teams will eventually drop out of the mix as the regular season nears, which is exactly what's happened according to an NBA insider.

Bulls Trade Rumors: Warriors Drop Out of Zach LaVine Discussions

The Athletic's Shams Charania is reporting that the Warriors are no longer interested in potentially acquiring LaVine.

Back at the end of June, it was reported that the Warriors rejected a deal from the Bulls that would've sent either Chris Paul or Andrew Wiggins to Chicago in exchange for LaVine. NBC Sports' K.C. Johnson reported shortly after that that Golden State was still worth monitoring, however, he also wouldn't be surprised if the 29-year-old sharpshooter returned to the Windy City.

"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."

- K.C. Johnson, July 1

If the Warriors are officially shutting the door on a potential LaVine trade, the Bulls' options are extremely limited. The 76ers likely aren't in the mix anymore after landing Paul George earlier this summer, leaving the Kings — who already performed a sign-and-trade with the Bulls to land DeMar DeRozan — as the main (and potentially only) remaining trade partner.

LaVine made his way to Chicago when the Bulls pulled off a five-player trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves back in June 2017. The blockbuster deal also featured the likes of Jimmy Butler and Lauri Markkanen, solidifying how monumental the trade was.

Since making the move, LaVine has suited up in 374 games with two NBA All-Star appearances across seven seasons with the Bulls. He averaged 24.2 points on .471/.383/.837 splits in those contests while also putting up 4.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 0.9 steals, further cementing himself as one of the top wing players in the Association.

The Bulls tried to trade LaVine before the 2024 trade deadline. With the team heading toward a rebuild, it made sense to trade the former 2014 first-rounder as he's set to carry an average cap hit of $44.5 million across the next two seasons. He also has a $48.9 million 2026-27 player option.

Unfortunately, any potential deals were killed before they gained momentum. The former UCLA product's season prematurely ended in February due to a serious foot injury, leaving time to tell how he'll look when he makes his return to the court — whether that be in Chicago or elsewhere.

With Bulls training camp likely opening at the start of October, the clock is ticking for GM Eversley to find someone willing to take LaVine. While getting the best possible return would be ideal, it might be better to move the ex-Bruin rather than risk him becoming a preseason distraction.

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