NBA Trade Rumors: Zach LaVine is trying to force his way to the Lakers?

NBA Trade Rumors: Executives around the league believe that Zach LaVine is trying to force his way to the Los Angeles Lakers.

As the rumored drama with the Chicago Bulls continues to swirl, there continue to be many questions that surround the future (both immediate and long-term) of this team. And at the center of it all is Zach LaVine, who during the offseason appeared to be the face of the franchise.

However, some recent whispers may suggest the opposite. According to a recent report, there is a belief around the league that LaVine, who just signed a long-term contract with the Bulls during the offseason, may be trying to force his way to the Los Angeles Lakers.

This is a loaded report and it could play a huge factor in what happens in Chicago over the next few weeks.

It’s unlikely Zach LaVine will be traded this season

Even assuming that this report is accurate, though there are some doubts, it would be truly unlikely that LaVine will be traded this season. For one, LaVine can’t be traded until January 15. And second, I can’t imagine a scenario where the Bulls are going to hit the complete rebuild button in-season.

Could they end up doing it during the offseason at some point, sure? At least it feels that trading a player during the offseason always seems to get more value than an in-season move. In-season moves are often rash decisions and aren’t always well-thought-out.

Even if the Bulls get to the point where they need to trade LaVine, for one reason or another, it would be in the best interest of the team to just wait until the offseason.

Losing does make everything worse. Just like winning makes everything better. If I was a member of the Bulls’ front office, I’m not sure I give up on LaVine that easily. I’d have to imagine that we see a retooling around LaVine before the team decides to trade him entirely.

Maybe this is part of LaVine trying to use his power to build a team that is more to his liking. I don’t know if he is or isn’t a fan of this current build, but could LaVine be using the media to try to get his way in Chicago?

I don’t think a trade demand has been made but it could certainly change everything. And maybe that’s something that’s happening behind the scenes. The next few weeks should be interesting in Chicago.