Entering this NBA season, other front offices were closely watching the Chicago Bulls as a candidate to blow up their roster if things didn’t start well. And things haven’t started well.
After 12 games the Bulls sit at 4-8, with a minus-3.8 net rating. Their only wins have come against the struggling Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons, the Indiana Pacers and against the Toronto Raptors in what may go down as the ugliest game of the NBA season.
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Because things haven’t started well, it looks like the Bulls are considering their options. As The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Darnell Mayberry reported, teams are “probing the availability” of two-time All-Star guard Zach Lavine, and that there has been “an increased openness” from the organization to discuss his future.
If the Bulls are willing to discuss LaVine, who is just beginning the second season of a five-year, $215 million contract, it should mean they’re willing to discuss everything about their future, including trading DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vučević and Alex Caruso.
However, LaVine is the asset likeliest to return the most value if the Bulls decide to move in a different direction. Over the course of consecutive All-Star seasons in 2020-21 and 2021-22, LaVine averaged 25.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 40.4 percent from 3 on more than seven attempts per game and 85 percent from the free-throw line. Though he did not make a third All-Star appearance last season, LaVine’s numbers were quite similar: 24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists on 48.5/37.5/84.8 shooting splits while only missing five games, four of which came in the beginning of the season.
This season, LaVine’s scoring average has dropped to 21 points per game largely due to a shooting slump. LaVine has been above 37 percent from 3 in seven of his last eight seasons (including each of the previous five), has consistently shot between 41 and 46 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s in his four prior seasons and has made at least 46 percent of shots NBA.com classifies as “wide open” in each of the last three campaigns. But so far in 2023-24, he’s only made 30.9 percent of his long-range shots overall, 32 percent of his catch-and-shoot triples and just 29 percent on wide open 3s. That’s not going to last.
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Shooting is a critical piece of the puzzle for LaVine because his rim pressure has declined. LaVine typically averaged around 12-14 drives per game earlier in his career in Chicago, but has been down in the 10 to 11 range in the last three seasons. Though he still gets easy looks in transition, he doesn’t pressure the basket in half-court settings quite like he once did. He can still get all the way there on occasion, but more often than not, he will try to step into a pull-up jumper, about half of which tend to be 3s, and he’s never really had much of a floater or runner. He ended up taking more shots out of pick-and-roll situations per game than all but 14 players in the league last year, per Synergy.
But while his shooting accuracy should bounce back, several league sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, convey the feeling that LaVine’s game does not translate well to winning situations.
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I often think that can be an unfair designation for players that just haven’t won yet, so I do want to at least explain why some around the league aren’t as high on him. Many point to his defense, which has been poor throughout the course of his career. He did improve his on-ball defense to solid last season, when the Bulls finished fifth in points allowed per 100 possessions. Still, he remained a significant impediment off the ball, as he tended to lose track of his man, often forcing one of Alex Caruso or Patrick Williams to scramble to cover up for him. Any team acquiring LaVine must have a plan to cover up for those regular off-ball defensive miscues.
Another concern is with LaVine’s playmaking. Whereas a onetime peer like Devin Booker has improved drastically in this area as he’s ascended to superstardom, LaVine still does not read the whole defense to make high-end drive-and-kick decisions once the opposition collapses on him. He works his way into four or five assists per game with how much he handles the ball, but they generally occur on same-side kickout reads and cuts, with the occasional pocket pass to hit the roll man. He commits fewer turnovers now, which used to be a significant issue in his game, but the sentiment is that LaVine’s feel for the game isn’t high enough for a player handling the ball as much as he does in important moments.
It’s possible LaVine’s driving and passing abilities improve once he leaves Chicago. The Bulls’ offense can be muddy and clogged, particularly in the midrange areas from which DeRozan and Vucević operate. The extended absence of Lonzo Ball due to injury has forced LaVine to play more on the ball than intended. His feel may improve with better spacing and more backcourt playmaking alongside him.
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But LaVine has also dealt with several injuries that have at times eroded his ability to separate from his defender. Many of them stem from a left ACL injury that caused him to miss the end of the 2016-17 season and the majority of the 2017-18 seasons after he was traded from Minnesota to Chicago in the Jimmy Butler deal. He also had summer arthroscopic surgery after playing through knee issues throughout the 2021-22 season, which contributed to his slow start to the following campaign.
All of that paints a somewhat murky picture for any team trying to acquire him. LaVine, who will turn 29 in March, is an incredibly gifted player who might have another All-Star season or two in his career. But contenders likely find more certainty in acquiring a veteran like Jrue Holiday, while teams still building may not be willing to take on LaVine’s knee injury history and highly paid contract. Some members of NBA front offices believe he can be a No. 2 option on a great team, as long as it has a genuine No. 1. Others think of him more as a third option, and those players tend to bring a bit more two-way play to legitimate contenders.
Still, I think there are a number of teams that could find reason to pursue LaVine, which makes me think his trade value is a touch higher than what others believe. I don’t think he’ll quite fetch the haul the Portland Trail Blazers got from the Boston Celtics for Holiday (two starter-quality players and two first-round picks), but I expect Chicago to receive more than the Philadelphia 76ers got for James Harden, whose market was limited.
Speaking of the 76ers, let’s roll through those teams.
The Contenders
Philadelphia 76ers
The Trade: LaVine for Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, Jaden Springer and two first-round picks
(Note: This trade cannot happen until Dec. 30 due to trade aggregation restrictions following Morris, Batum and Covington’s arrivals from the LA Clippers in the Harden deal.)
The Case for the Bulls: This is a typical reset trade for Chicago. The Bulls get a bunch of expiring contracts to move LaVine off their books. They take a flier on Springer, who has shown early flashes of being an energy player who can defend on the perimeter, and get a couple of first-round picks. The money is pretty close to even, with the Bulls only taking on an additional $2.7 million in salary this season, with only Springer’s deal having any future relevance.
The 76ers could include an additional first-rounder or other assets in the deal, but I’m skeptical they would. They’d still need another piece defensively on the perimeter and would need an additional asset to acquire one.
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The Case for the 76ers: The connections here are obvious. The 76ers just traded a terrific, offense-first guard in Harden for assets they could use to acquire a star to put next to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. Is LaVine the one that makes sense for them?
I actually don’t think so. The 76ers already have Maxey, who is stylistically different, but similarly productive. He can play off the ball due to his shooting ability, but he’s reached another level with the ball in his hands in the revamped Philadelphia offense. Adding LaVine could curtail Maxey’s development; while LaVine is also capable of playing off another ballhandler, he also thrives on the ball. Additionally, a Maxey-LaVine backcourt poses defensive challenges for the 76ers, especially in the playoffs, when the best players in the league are more ruthless attacking multiple questionable perimeter matchups. I would hold off if I was Philadelphia.
The Trade: LaVine and Julian Phillips for D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Taurean Prince, Jalen Hood-Schifino and an unprotected first-round pick
(Note: this trade cannot happen until Jan. 15, when Hachimura becomes eligible to be moved. There are other ways to get a deal done as soon as Dec. 15, including replacing Hachimura with Taurean Prince and Gabe Vincent. The Lakers are also hard-capped after using their midlevel exception this past offseason and only have about $5 million in space below that line.)
The Case for the Bulls: It’s a charitable one that would involve the Bulls preferring not to bottom out after a LaVine trade, which has tended to be their ownership’s preference in prior rebuilding situations. The idea is for the Bulls to get a couple of useful players now in Russell and Hachimura, as well as a top-20 pick in Hood-Schifino who would represent a solid get if the Bulls liked him during the pre-draft process. Russell could play on the ball, and Hachimura could offer something in the mold of what does not seem to be working with Patrick Williams. Hood-Schifino could project as a rotation player in the NBA if he irons out his jumper off the catch, but he has a ways to go there.
The big issue with this deal is that it doesn’t offer much long-term salary cap relief. Russell has a player option for next season that he seems likely to pick up, Hachimura is signed for two more years after this one and Hood-Schifino is in the first year of a rookie scale deal. Unless the Bulls really love Hachimura and Hood-Schifino or the Lakers show a surprising willingness to include Austin Reaves — who is currently off the table, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha — I’d be surprised if this was the best offer the Bulls get.
The Case for the Lakers: Of course it makes sense that the Lakers would be interested in him. He’s an All-Star-caliber scoring guard who can play off the ball around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, hit shots at an elite level and provide attacking aggression in transition. If the Lakers could get him without giving up Reaves, they’d have an awesome top-four group that would fit perfectly together. I’m just skeptical the Lakers have enough to get the deal done with the limited assets they possess.
(Photo of Russell shoots the ball over Suns’ guard Grayson Allen: Gary A. Vasquez / USA TODAY Sports)The Trade: LaVine for Chris Paul, Jonathan Kuminga, and a first-round pick
The Case for the Bulls: It comes down to their valuation of Kuminga, the 21-year-old former No. 7 pick who had a monster preseason and is now averaging 11.5 points off the bench in 20 minutes per game. Some league evaluators still believe he can become a 20-points-per-game scorer in a different ecosystem. Others have significant concerns with his perimeter shooting and defensive instincts, seeing him as more of an undersized big scorer off the bench who uses athleticism to create mismatches. His range of outcomes is pretty wide because he’s been behind an established group of Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney and even, to an extent, Gary Payton II.
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Paul’s deal is structured so that a team can have him for $30 million next year or waive him with no financial commitment after this season. He’s harder to deal in-season because of his contract’s price point, though the Bulls might want him around if they decide not to rebuild their entire roster.
The Case for the Warriors: The Dubs’ offense is off to a messy start, ranking just 15th in points scored per 100 possessions despite Stephen Curry’s nuclear-hot start to the the campaign before a recent knee injury. Outside of Curry, the Warriors lack anyone who can create their own shot. Andrew Wiggins has struggled early on, Paul is limited as a scorer at this stage of his career and Klay Thompson doesn’t have the athletic juice he once did.
LaVine could function as a supercharged Jordan Poole, who was traded to Washington for Paul. He’s the better shot maker and catch-and-shoot player of the two, and is also a better decision-maker and more switched-on defender despite his own limitations in those categories. While LaVine does not profile as a typical Dubs player, this is a new regime with Mike Dunleavy in charge. Even before Bob Myers’ summer departure, the Warriors have taken chances on players like LaVine, entering them into their system, promising them winning and asking them to do what they do well without overextending them. It worked with Wiggins, though other chances with shoot-first offensive creators (Alec Burks, Kelly Oubre Jr., D’Angelo Russell) have been more mixed. They’re willing to take shots on shoot-first offensive creators.
Still, I’d be surprised to see the Warriors go down this road due to LaVine’s onerous contract.
The Trade: LaVine for Kyle Lowry, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jović, Orlando Robinson and a first-round pick
(Note: This trade cannot happen before Dec. 15 due to trade restrictions on Robinson).
The Case for the Bulls: Jaquez has been fantastic for the Heat so far, playing 23 minutes per game as a rookie and thriving as a mismatch post creator and cutter who finds open spaces and finishes. You need to have a plan to get the most out of his unique game, but he can cut off good creators and lean into his footwork to score. I’m not as high on Jović because he’s never been all that consistent as a shooter, but he’s an interesting flier. Miami could also use Tyler Herro as a centerpiece of a trade, but why wouldn’t the Bulls just keep the better player in LaVine in that scenario, given that both are signed for the same length of time?
The Case for the Heat: I’m intrigued, but don’t love the fit. Miami needs players who can shoot and create shots to space the floor for Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, and LaVine does that. But even with a creative coach in Erik Spoelstra, many of Miami’s sets would involve Herro and LaVine initiating, so ball movement could consistently be an issue. The Herro-LaVine combination on the other end is precarious, even for a defensive genius like Spoelstra. Plus, LaVine’s contract would hinder Miami’s long-term flexibility. I can understand Miami wanting to push all-in after falling three wins short of the title last season, especially with Butler just turning 34. But I’m not convinced this is the move for them.
Middle Tier
The Trade: LaVine for Evan Fournier, Donte DiVincenzo, Immanuel Quickley and a first-round pick
(Note: This trade cannot happen before Dec. 15 due to trade restrictions on DiVincenzo).
The Case for the Bulls: There are few players that could be available who are more interesting than Quickley, especially if Chicago believes he can blossom in a larger role. Quickley was the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year last season, averaging 15 points, four rebounds and three assists while playing lights out on defense, and is putting up the same numbers this season in five fewer minutes per game.
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However, Quickley will be a restricted free agent this offseason, which means he’s about to get expensive. If I represented him, I would use the four-year $120 million deal Poole signed last offseason as the starting point in negotiations. The Bulls need to believe Quickley and the other assets they acquire will be worth more than LaVine in a vacuum, because they won’t get much flexibility in a deal like this.
The Bulls could ask for RJ Barrett instead, but I don’t think the Knicks should move him given his start to the season.
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The Case for the Knicks: One could argue the Knicks need one more shot creator next to Jalen Brunson, who is responsible for so much of the Knicks’ offense. New York’s offense has been worse this season than it was at this point last year, even with great shooting from Brunson, Barrett, Quentin Grimes and Quickley. LaVine would be a real upgrade in that department.
Having said that, I don’t think upgrading to LaVine does enough to lift New York into being a genuine contender in the East, in the class of Boston or Milwaukee, and ultimately hinders their long-term flexibility too much. The Knicks should hold their powder for legitimate No. 1 options, not No. 2s or No. 3s. They have enough of those guys already.
(Photo of Quickley: Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports)I get asked about the Pelicans as a potential LaVine landing spot somewhat regularly. Their offense has been a mess this season, and I can see a world where they would want an elite shooter next to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. But there isn’t a deal that lines up structurally in any way. They’d need to include CJ McCollum or Ingram to make the money work, or amalgamate salary with Jonas Valančiūnas, Herb Jones and possibly others. To trade any of those key players away, on top of moving recent first-round picks Jordan Hawkins and/or Dyson Daniels, or the Jose Alvarado/Naji Marshall combination, would be overkill.
The Trade: LaVine for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, Noah Clowney and a first-round pick
The Case for the Bulls: This is a more interesting trade package than it appears at first glance. If the Bulls want to avoid bottoming out, as is their history, Dinwiddie and Finney-Smith are starter-quality players who can help. Or, if the Bulls eventually decided to start fresh, they could get a first-round pick from a contender for Finney-Smith and either extract some value for Dinwiddie or let his deal expire. Clowney is an interesting prospect with all sorts of length and athleticism.
The Case for the Nets: The Nets have been in the star market since moving Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. They have no incentive to be bad themselves, as they don’t control their own future draft picks, but they possess a significant number of other teams’ selections from moving those stars on. Given their unique situation, the Nets might as well kick the tires on any semi-star that comes on the market.
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Ultimately, the Nets’ willingness to consider a LaVine deal may come down to their evaluation of Cam Thomas. If the Nets believe in Thomas’ start to the season – prior to his ankle injury, he averaged nearly 27 points in his first eight games while shooting an absurd percentage on his pull-up midrange jumpers and floaters – they shouldn’t trade for LaVine because he’s too similar a player. But if the Nets are less sold on Thomas as a front-line player, a LaVine deal becomes more interesting. The Nets would theoretically have a fantastic defensive infrastructure around LaVine with Nic Claxton, Mikal Bridges, Dennis Smith Jr. and Royce O’Neale still on the roster. Their offensive movement would improve as well, and sliding Thomas to the second unit could also improve their bench offense.
Toronto Raptors
The Trade: LaVine for Gary Trent Jr., Thad Young, Otto Porter Jr. and two first-round picks
The Case for the Bulls: This is a lot of expiring salary and two first-round picks for LaVine. The team could move Trent along to potentially get another late-first or more second-round picks, or could try to extend his contract to keep him in Chicago. The Raptors could include Gradey Dick in this move instead of one of those two first-rounders, but I wouldn’t be enthused about that possibility because his perimeter shooting makes him a perfect fit next to Scottie Barnes long term.
(Of note: Toronto would need to carry the minimum 14 players all season to stay below the apron).
The Case for the Raptors: This would set Toronto up with the kind of perimeter shot creator it has lacked in the post-Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard world. A starting five of LaVine, Barnes, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl is … definitely something. I don’t know if Toronto would compete for a title, but it would be a good team that’d be fun to watch. LaVine is theoretically a tremendous fit with Barnes offensively, and putting LaVine next to Barnes, Anunoby and Poeltl would provide the necessary defensive insulation.
The crowded midrange area that LaVine experiences in Chicago would still be there, given the presences of Siakam and Poeltl. But Siakam is a free agent who has yet to sign an extension, so it’s unclear if he will be on the roster long term. The same can be said for Anunoby, who also figures to get paid this summer.
If the Raptors have a long-term solution in mind that would involve Anunoby staying and figuring out a clear plan for Siakam either via extension or trade, they should pursue LaVine. If they don’t, I think they should wait to use their trade assets.
Rebuilders
Utah Jazz
The Trade: LaVine for Talen Horton-Tucker, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji and two first-round picks
The Case for the Bulls: If the Bulls decide to prioritize draft assets in a LaVine deal, Utah is the best place they can turn. The Jazz have a monstrous war chest of picks due to last offseason’s Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert trades. The Bulls will likely need to take on some future money in the form of either Sexton, Jordan Clarkson or John Collins, but they could easily push for additional picks or a prospect in exchange. I don’t think the Jazz would be willing to discuss Keyonte George or Taylor Hendricks, but maybe the Bulls could convince them to part with Agbaji or Brice Sensabaugh.
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Agbaji would be an interesting fit as an athletic potential 3-and-D wing. Over his last 20 games last season, Agbaji averaged 13.7 points per game while shooting 34 percent on seven 3-point attempts per game. He’s been a bit more hit or miss this season, initially being relegated to the back end of Utah’s rotation before starting its last three games. He’s not a sure thing, but is worth the Bulls taking a chance on, especially with nearly three full years left on a rookie-scale contract.
The Case for the Jazz: If the Jazz decided they were ready to upgrade their present roster with LaVine, they’d have the ability to outbid any of their primary suitors with their draft capital. They could realistically offer a third first-rounder and blow other teams out of the water.
So any potential deal for LaVine comes down to Utah’s priorities. Do the Jazz want to bottom out, or do they want to take a step forward in the present? They have a legitimate top-20 player in the league in Lauri Markkanen, as well as other interesting long-term frontcourt starters. But their backcourt has been arguably the worst in the league to start the season, and they’re dead-last in the league with a 17.7 turnover rate. LaVine would be an enormous upgrade on that spot and would form a strong one-two punch with Markkanen.
Plus, unlike the Bulls, the Jazz would still have plenty of assets and cap flexibility left to target someone else to pair with LaVine and Markkanen. They should want to find an unselfish, high-level distributor as a point guard. Between Markkanen, Collins, Clarkson and Walker Kessler, the Jazz already lack high-level playmaking as is. LaVine’s passing is a bit better, but not by much.
Another minor aspect worth considering: the 2024 NBA Draft is quite weak at the top and the Jazz owe Oklahoma City a top-10 protected pick at some point in the next three years. Acquiring LaVine would better position Utah to make at least the 2023-24 Play-In Tournament and allow that selection to transfer during a down draft year.
Honestly, Utah makes a lot of sense to me.
(Photo of Horton-Tucker: Ed Szczepanski / USA TODAY Sports)The Trade: LaVine for Jonathan Isaac, Gary Harris, Jett Howard, Chuma Okeke and a first-round pick
The Case for the Bulls: Another simple asset-and-cap-flexibility move. Isaac, Harris and Okeke are all on contracts the Bulls can get out of after this season. If Isaac performs well — he’s shown elite defensive flashes in limited minutes again — the Bulls could keep him around. Or, they could simply reset and let all of these guys walk.
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Howard and the pick are the real prizes. Howard was taken in the lottery last season, though his leaguewide value before the draft was quite polarizing. He hasn’t carved out a rotation spot in Orlando, but the Magic have a lot of backcourt prospects ahead of him. Orlando will almost certainly not be enthused about offering a player they just took in the lottery, but that’s what it might take to actually get a deal done.
The Bulls could also take a look at other players like Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black, though I’d be surprised if Orlando would actually be willing to give up either of those players. The Magic could include Markelle Fultz instead of Harris or Isaac, but Fultz has been quite good with Orlando when he’s been healthy enough to play.
The Case for the Magic: Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have been playing in a phone booth for large swaths of their young careers, with little space to operate and create shots. Banchero’s power and balance make him a force, and Wagner is a terrific 6-foot-9 forward with an immense amount of skill and strong shooting ability. They’re missing shooting around them; Orlando is making just 32.9 percent of its 3s, and is 24th in the NBA in 3-point attempt rate. Enter LaVine, who is one of the best shooters in the NBA and a superb fit with the Magic’s two young forwards.
The Magic are also one of the few teams that could insulate LaVine defensively with their other backcourt options. Suggs has been one of the five best defensive guards I’ve seen in the league this season, Black is already quite good for a rookie on that end and Fultz is sharp with his length and overall intelligence. Orlando may not want to move Howard, but one could see him as expendable.
This is the kind of trade that could shift the Magic from a Play-In team to a top-six seed, and they’d retain real upside with their remaining younger players and cap flexibility this summer.
Detroit Pistons
The Trade: LaVine for Joe Harris, James Wiseman and Jaden Ivey
The Case for the Bulls: Again: flexibility and asset value. Harris and Wiseman combine for $32 million in expiring contracts. Perhaps the Bulls could see Wiseman as an upside swing, though he has yet to show much of anything in his four NBA seasons.
The real asset here is Ivey, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Under normal circumstances, I can’t imagine a team giving up on a No. 5 pick this quickly. But the way new coach Monty Williams has handled Ivey so far this season has been bizarre. In his eight games (he battled a nasty illness last week), Ivey has been terrific, averaging 11 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from 3 and 77.8 percent from the line. He’s been smart and efficient with his decision-making, and his per-minute numbers are superb. Yet Ivey remains behind Killian Hayes in the rotation, despite the fact that teams don’t guard Hayes on the perimeter offensively. I don’t understand a lot of what’s going on in Detroit right now, and I especially don’t get the way they’ve used Ivey, who has immense upside due to his elite burst and continued growth as a shooter.
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Maybe I’m misreading the situation and the Pistons still value Ivey too highly to put on the table for LaVine. But he is the player I think the Bulls should be targeting.
The Case for the Pistons: To be even more clear, I would not offer Ivey in any potential LaVine deal. But I’m also not Troy Weaver or any other member of a front office that needs to show improvement following four consecutive years of 23 wins or fewer. (Weaver, to be clear, has only been there for three of those seasons). The Pistons are 2-10 so far this season, dead-last in the East again. If something doesn’t change soon, I’m not convinced Weaver gets another crack at building the team.
In that light, LaVine, along with the eventual return of Bojan Bogdanović, Isaiah Livers and Monté Morris from injury, will bolster the biggest thing the Pistons need: offensive firepower around Cade Cunningham. Detroit’s current lack of floor spacing requires Cunningham to run almost every primary action when he’s on the court for the team, which has led to turnover issues and inefficient shooting for the 22-year-old. The Pistons’ starting five of Cunningham, Hayes, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren are only averaging 105.7 points per 100 possessions. By comparison, Detroit averages 120.1 points per 100 possessions when Cunningham plays with Alec Burks and about 111 points per 100 when rookie Marcus Sasser replaces Hayes. Imagine putting one of the best scoring guards in the league in LaVine around Cunningham instead.
To me, including Ivey in a deal for LaVine would be a panic trade. But those types of things happen in the NBA. Perhaps Detroit could replace Ivey with more draft picks and Sasser, who has been good as a rookie, but the Pistons only have three available first-rounders to trade due to the bizarre pick protections on the first-rounder they traded to get Isaiah Stewart in the 2020 NBA Draft.
My verdict
The three teams that seem like the best LaVine fits to me are the Lakers, Jazz and Magic. Toronto could also make some sense if they figure out their overall long-term plan. I also never rule out desperation, and Detroit has the most of that attribute right now.
The Jazz have real backcourt issues and only George as a potential long-term answer. They also have some incentive to compete now and a bevy of draft picks to get the deal done. LaVine is a great fit on the Magic next to Banchero and Wagner, filling a backcourt scoring need while offering much-needed perimeter shooting, and they have the defensive infrastructure to alleviate his weaknesses. The Lakers are all-in on contending now and have a real need for backcourt shot creation.
Ultimately, the team that is willing to offer an additional first-round pick beyond what I listed above is the one that will get a deal done. If you made me pick one team as my favorite fit, I’ll go with Orlando.
(Top photo: Jamie Sabau / Getty Images)
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