3 disastrous Zach LaVine trades the Bulls need to avoid

No. 2 Zach LaVine trade Bulls should avoid: Suns for Deandre Ayton

The Suns are expected to keep Deandre Ayton for now, but that will likely change if a substantial return becomes available. LaVine certainly qualifies as substantial. The Suns don’t need another star guard, but with the incessant rumblings about Kyrie Irving and James Harden, it’s unwise to write off the possibility of Phoenix (under ambitious new ownership) making an unconventional play for star-power.

For Chicago, this general framework is exactly what the front office should avoid. Ayton is young and innately gifted, but he doesn’t always play hard and he doesn’t move the needle much in either direction. The Bulls certainly don’t get better, but they also don’t get any future picks and Ayton is good enough to keep them out of the NBA basement.

The Vucevic extension further complicates this particular trade. Can the Bulls get off of Vucevic’s three-year, $60 million deal? If not, does paying him $60 million to back up Ayton really make financial sense? No. No, it doesn’t.

This is how the Bulls front office has needlessly made its own job harder. There were zero reported suitors for Vucevic. No cap space team would have gone anywhere near him at the Bulls’ price point. And yet, he’s on the books for three years now — fully guaranteed. Even if the Bulls can offload LaVine for slightly more favorable contracts, there’s the added layer of Vooch, DeRozan, and several other vets to get through before the team is properly rebuilding with a favorable financial profile.