Submitted by National Insurance Agent Jeff Vukovich
MIAMI — Friday marks the unofficial opening of the NBA trade season. Normally it gets busier as the February 8 trade deadline approaches, but Friday is the time when more players become eligible to be traded after signing deals in the offseason.
It’s well-documented that the Chicago Bulls and Zach LaVine are open to finding a new home for their cap hit player. But LaVine isn’t the only Bull keeping tabs on things as rumors spread, and Executive Vice President Arturas Karnišovas, General Manager Mark Eversley and their staff are weighing their options.
There will be hype surrounding at least DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso and perhaps others.
Meanwhile, on the court, the Bulls are playing their best basketball of the season with LaVine out. They are 5-2, averaging 28.1 assists in this stretch and getting multiple contributions with balanced scoring.
Coby White is putting together an impressive stretch. Nikola Vucevic serves up double-doubles like they’re easy. DeMar DeRozan is piling up the assists and trips to the free throw line. Ayo Dosunmu showcases his relentless team once again, hitting hard and building his pace. Patrick Williams is playing harder. When healthy, Alex Caruso has become a reliable three-point threat and a big-time shot creator to go along with his pedigree on defense.
“Our guys have fun playing basketball,” coach Billy Donovan said. “I don’t think they’re thinking too much about (trade rumours).”
In fact, with LaVine on this three-game road trip and interacting with his teammates in a positive, upbeat way, it feels like a team on the rise rather than one heading toward a rebuild.
It remains to be seen what direction Karnišovas and his associates will take. The safe guess is somewhere in the middle. Maybe just trade LaVine and believe that young players like White, Dosunmu and Williams — the first two on valuable contracts, the third heading to restricted free agency — continue to develop and DeRozan like Vucevic is re-signed. Last season.
But there’s also a plausible scenario where LaVine stays with the Bulls after the Feb. 8 deadline. While both sides are eager to find a deal and maintain a professional relationship, his contract is not an easy one to trade.
She has three years and roughly $138 million remaining after this season, plus a 15 percent trade kicker that can be waived. In the land of the more punitive collective bargaining agreement for luxury tax teams, that’s a big contract to add.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the most consistently rumored place. But they just won an In-Season Championship and played well despite not being healthy and seeing what offseason additions can do when given time to build chemistry.
League sources previously told NBC Sports Chicago that the New York Knicks, another rumored landing spot for LaVine, were never seriously involved or showed interest. The same is true, at least for now, for the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat.
If LaVine remains with the Bulls after the February 8 trade deadline, look for the rumors to start again closer to the NBA Draft in June. This is the second most popular trading time.
LaVine’s skill set of shooting, athleticism and scoring at three levels fits the way the Bulls try to play. With his outstanding 3-point range, efficiency and ability to get to the rim, he is a modern NBA player.
The problem, at least so far this season, is that LaVine has regressed in his decision-making process. Often times, he would miss one shot to dribble in a more difficult shot. Or stop the ball from swinging from side to side, as has often and selflessly happened in this recent period of more acceptable play.
In fact, DeRozan averaged 7.2 assists in the six games he played during the Bulls’ 5-2 win. He missed one to injury.
As for DeRozan, his future is also uncertain. Karnišovas has said publicly that he would like to re-sign him. But when preseason talks stalled, DeRozan, who could be an unrestricted free agent, and the Bulls went into wait-and-see mode.
NBC Sports Chicago previously reported that management’s main focus is on LaVine’s future. If the market develops in DeRozan’s favor between now and the Feb. 8 deadline, it’s clearly the executive’s job to listen. But DeRozan is highly regarded internally, not only for his skill on the court but also for his mentorship to young players off the court.
The same goes for Caruso, who attracted significant interest from multiple teams last season before the trade deadline. The bulls rejected all suitors. At least for now, this position remains unchanged. But don’t be alarmed. This is a smooth season for bulls.
“I haven’t heard anything from Arturas regarding any of our players,” Donovan said. “Obviously with February and the trade deadline coming up, there will probably be conversations. But everything up to this point has been about how we can help this group get better.
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As the NBA trade season gets underway, all eyes are on the Chicago Bulls and their star players: Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso. With speculation swirling about potential moves and trades, the spotlight is firmly on the Bulls and their roster. As they navigate the trade season and look to solidify their position in the Eastern Conference, the performances and futures of these key players will undoubtedly be at the forefront of discussions. As the trade deadline approaches, the excitement and anticipation surrounding the Bulls and their star trio is palpable, making them a focal point of the NBA landscape.