Chicago Bulls

Report: Zach LaVine’s camp would be against trade to New York Knicks

Published by
Peter Dewey

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.

Peter Dewey

Peter is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where he covered the MAAC and college basketball for three years. He has worked for NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering basketball, football and other major sports. Follow him on Twitter @peterdewey2.

Published by
Peter Dewey

Recent Posts

Stephen A. Smith says he’s featured in fake video circulating social media: ‘We are living in dangerous times’

According to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, there's a fake video — which may be…

2 hours ago

Stephen A. Smith’s ESPN colleague scolds him for using ‘barbershop hearsay’ on Steph Curry

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith recently relayed a controversial take that an anonymous Hall of Famer…

2 hours ago

Hall of Famer claims Steph Curry would’ve averaged 17 PPG or less in his era: ‘We would’ve hurt him’

An anonymous Hall of Famer allegedly told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith that if Golden State…

1 day ago

Report: NBA GM believed Grizzlies would have had to shop Ja Morant this summer before they fired Taylor Jenkins

Earlier on in the year, long before the Memphis Grizzlies dismissed Taylor Jenkins after he…

2 days ago

Ja Morant opens up about Grizzlies firing Taylor Jenkins: ‘It’s tough for me’

Guard Ja Morant suited up for the first time since the Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor…

3 days ago

Tyrese Haliburton on ‘easy decision’ to name SGA MVP: ‘If you took a player poll, I’m sure he would win’

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a compelling case to win this season's MVP…

4 days ago