Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine’s camp would be against a trade to the New York Knicks this offseason, according to the New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy.
LaVine could potentially be on the trade block if the Bulls decide to reset after failing to make the playoffs last season. The two-time All-Star signed a new deal with Chicago just last offseason.
“Zach LaVine’s representatives would be against a deal to the Knicks, the Daily News has learned,” Bondy wrote. “The Bulls are reportedly gauging interest in the All-Star guard, which prompted speculation that the Knicks — who are strapped with future draft assets — would get involved. But a source said the LaVine camp isn’t interested in dealing with the Knicks, who have a reputation around the league of favoring clients of CAA, the agency that employed Leon Rose before his move to the Knicks front office.
“Of course, the Knicks don’t need such approval to make a trade. But landmines are set and often detonated under those circumstances.”
The Knicks certainly could still make an offer for LaVine since he doesn’t have a no-trade clause, but it could be a risky proposition if he doesn’t want to be with the franchise.
LaVine is under contract through the 2025-26 season and has a player option on his deal for the 2026-27 campaign. New York would likely need to part ways with several assets in order to secure him in a trade since he’s locked up for multiple seasons.
During the 2022-23 season, LaVine appeared in 77 games for the Bulls and played 35.9 minutes per game. He averaged 24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc.
The Knicks could use another scorer – and shooter – like LaVine next to Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle. New York earned the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference in the 2022-23 season and made the second round of the playoffs.
However, the team lost to the Miami Heat in the second round, partly due to the fact that the team struggled shooting the ball from deep. The Knicks shot just 29.2 percent from beyond the arc in the playoffs, the worst mark of any playoff team in the NBA in the 2022-23 season.
LaVine is a proven scorer that could take some pressure off Brunson and Randle and open things up for the Knicks’ offense.
As the offseason progresses, New York will have to gauge how willing it is to take the risk on LaVine if the Bulls end up making him available on the trade market.
