NBA Trade Rumors: Bulls considering to move Zach LaVine & Montenegrin center to explore deals as trade deadline looms

Chicago Bulls insider Joe Cowley reported Monday that the team is looking to trade stars Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. The Bulls' (7-11) poor start to the season hasn't surprised the organization, with Cowley noting they expect a bottom-half finish in the 2024-25 NBA season.

There is a ton of talent in the 2025 NBA draft class, and Chicago is reportedly interested in entering the lottery. According to Cowley, the Bulls are on track to win 32 games or fewer this season, which would give them a chance to qualify for the lottery.

Last season, the Bulls won 39 games but missed the playoffs after a play-in tournament loss. Despite their record, they landed the 11th pick in the 2024 draft, selecting 6-foot-10 forward Matas Buzelis.

While they plan to draft a player in the lottery, the Bulls aim to have the sixth spot (or lower) in the next draft, per Cowley.

"The Sun-Times, as well as several other media outlets, have reported that vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas was still going to actively try and trade Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic," Cowley wrote on Chicago Sun-Times.

In the latest NBA Power Rankings, the Bulls are in the 22nd spot, making them the eighth-worst team. However, they are still looking to improve their position and acquire a promising rookie. Trading away LaVine and Vucevic will put them in their ideal spot, especially now that they have the third-easiest schedule in the league, per Tankathon.

With their current spot, the Bulls have a 6.7% chance of landing the top pick and 29.0% of being in the top four.

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Zach LaVine addressed the trade rumors

Last week, Zach LaVine addressed the trade tumors he's been involved in.

"I heard everything," the two-time All-Star said. "I read everything. Sometimes you gotta take that accountability and put a chip on your shoulder. There’s a lot of things people said I had to prove. I think my resume speaks for itself, the type of player I am, the type of person I am, but it is what it is."

LaVine has played 15 games this season, averaging 22.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 52.1% from the field and 44.0% from three. He's only missed three games and has shown his importance in the Bulls' system.

Having a good year would make it easier for Chicago to get other teams to trade for the high-flying star.

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