NBA Trade Rumors: The 2 most likely landing spots for Zach LaVine revealed?
NBA Trade Rumors: Are there two early favorites for Zach LaVine?
The 2023-24 NBA season is only a few weeks old but there are already some intriguing storylines that are beginning to develop. And one of the primary ones revolves around a possible blockbuster trade of Zach LaVine.
The recent rumblings are that the Bulls and LaVine are inching closer to the point where they could mutually agree to explore a trade.
The Bulls have struggled once again to begin the year and are 4-7 through the first 11 games of the season. If something doesn’t change quickly, it only makes sense for the Bulls to explore retooling the roster or even starting a complete rebuild.
And if that is a path that the Bulls explore, LaVine would almost certainly be on the trade block. The early reports indicate that the likes of the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat will be among the interested teams.
However, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein, the Lakers and Heat are more likely to emerge as serious suitors for LaVine than the Sixers. That lines up with the other recent reports surrounding the Sixers. That could mean the Lakers and Heat might be the early favorites to land LaVine.
Why the Lakers and Heat would be ideal landing spots for Zach LaVine
In a vacuum, the Lakers and Heat are natural fits for LaVine. The Lakers would very much benefit from a third start next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Los Angeles ran out of gas in the postseason last year largely because they lacked a third star. Even though they’d have to gut their depth, LaVine could be the third offensive star that they’ve craved over the last couple of seasons.
The same could be said about the Heat. They also lacked the necessary offensive firepower opposite of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. That absence in their lineup is one of the biggest reasons why they weren’t able to hold their own against the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals.
The big question for both teams is whether or not they’ll be able to meet the Bulls’ asking price for LaVine. And that will largely depend on what other potential suitors arrive when LaVine officially hits the trade block.
Next. NBA Trade Rumors: 3 Bold ways Los Angeles Lakers can land Zach LaVine. dark
Either way, it seems like there’s at least a solid chance LaVine ends up being traded before the deadline.