The Chicago Bulls are at a pivotal moment, with the franchise actively exploring ways to part with another star, who still has three years remaining on his $138 million contract. The Bulls are considering options that could reshape their roster and are leaning toward a complete rebuild, especially after parting with key players like DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso. Offloading LaVine’s contract would provide the team with greater flexibility, allowing them to fully embrace a rebuild. However, they currently find themselves stuck—neither bad enough to tank nor good enough to compete.
The Toronto Raptors have been suggested as a potential landing spot for Him. Colin Keane of The Sporting News noted that “The Toronto Raptors stand out as a team that could be interested in adding Him. Toronto has Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett on long-term deals, but lacks pure scoring on their roster. LaVine would fill that gap and balance Toronto’s depth chart.”
As for what the Bulls might receive in return, it appears they would be open to almost any trade involving the two-time All-Star at this stage. Keane suggested, “The Bulls would absolutely take on Bruce Brown’s expiring contract ($23M) and Kelly Olynyk’s 2-year deal ($12.8M per season) in exchange for LaVine. While a LaVine-to-Raptors deal hasn’t been publicly discussed, it could be a shrewd move for both Toronto and Chicago.”
Acquiring LaVine does come with risks, primarily due to his large contract and injury history. Yet when healthy, LaVine brings significant value, as evidenced by his 10 seasons with the Bulls and Timberwolves, during which he has averaged 20.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists across 580 regular-season games, earning two All-Star selections.
While he could elevate the Raptors’ performance, his injury history and defensive shortcomings raise questions about his fit within the team. For the Bulls, moving LaVine’s contract is crucial to committing to a rebuild, but finding a suitable trade partner for the once-promising “superstar in the making” has proven challenging.
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