After reports emerged at the trade deadline in February that the Knicks had been in discussions about a package that would lead to the acquisition of Zach LaVine, the two-time Bulls All-Star went on the defensive.
“Everybody’s name in this room has been mentioned one way or another in their careers,’’ LaVine told reporters at the time. “It doesn’t bother me.’’
LaVine said his agent, Rich Paul, would have called if a deal was being discussed, and the two hadn’t spoken that day.
“Rumors are rumors,’’ he said. “If it doesn’t come from me, then it’s just put out there for the world to see. I’m not worried about it. It’s funny to me.’’
Fast-forward to last week when 12-time All-Star Chris Paul was traded from the Suns to the Wizards and didn’t find out about it until he was on an airplane flying to appear on “Good Morning America.’’
Memo to LaVine: Front offices don’t necessarily need to run a trade by you or your representation.
That could happen again as Thursday’s NBA Draft nears, with sources indicating the Bulls remain active in looking to acquire a first-round pick.
As it stands, the Bulls sent the No. 11 pick to the Magic as part of the compensation from the Nikola Vucevic trade in 2021.
Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas stressed continuity in the exit interviews in April, especially when it came to his “Big Three’’ of LaVine, Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan. But Karnisovas has been gauging what LaVine and DeRozan would get on the market.
A source told the Sun-Times in February that the asking price for LaVine was too steep at the time. But has that price lowered in the wake of the Bradley Beal trade?
That remains to be seen, but it’s unlikely.
What was real, however, was when the Knicks and Bulls did have those discussions in February, they didn’t conclude as much as they were tabled.
And New York isn’t the only place that LaVine could fit as a perfect 2B or 3A player.
The Hornets own the second overall pick and have been putting out feelers about moving down, as have the Trail Blazers at No. 3. Both are long shots for the Bulls, however.
But if the Blazers are keeping superstar guard Damian Lillard, could that make LaVine the next hot commodity for them or the Heat? Realistically, a handful of doors from other teams would have to be slammed in Portland’s face for the Blazers to come around for LaVine.
As far as DeRozan, he will be entering the final season of his three-year deal and up for an extension. He would be the perfect finishing piece for a team close to a championship but wouldn’t bring back the return LaVine would.
There’s a lot of smoke around the Bulls, but not necessarily a spark.
There’s a very good chance that the Bulls have a very quiet draft night and are using all the dialogue with teams for information in case the 2023-24 season goes south. They always could push the eject button in February.
Besides prepping for the draft, the Bulls also have been trying to find common ground on an extension for Vucevic. The Sun-Times reported earlier this month that a three-year deal was likely, and sources indicated that Vucevic was willing to give the Bulls a hometown discount.
Vucevic is 32 but coming off a season in which he played all 82 games. It seems like he can play into his 40s. His father, Borislav, played in Europe until he was 44.
NOTE: After telling reporters at the end of the season that he would pick up his $3.3 million player option for 2023-24, reserve forward Derrick Jones Jr. declined the option, according to a source, and will become an unrestricted free agent.
