Rockets Ducked Zach LaVine Trade Deeming Bulls’ 2x All-Star “$50 Million Version of Jalen Green”

Zach LaVine was a major trade prospect at the start of this year. The Los Angeles Lakers were reported to be the front runners for the Bulls guard. But that news lost its traction just as fast. And now, with the trade deadline so close, Chicago is trying for a last-ditch effort to trade the 28-year-old.

LaVine had to pull out early due to a season-ending foot surgery. Add the massive contract he’s under and an injury-ridden career; it’s understandable why teams are getting cold feet. And that’s what the most recent Rockets potential trade move tells us.

Zach LaVine and the Houston Rockets

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Rockets weren’t interested in getting Zach LaVine despite the efforts put forth by Chicago. Fischer says, “Don’t think the Rockets really wanted to upgrade Jalen Green with the mind of getting someone who is in theory a $50 Million dollar version of Jalen Green.”

The 2x Slam Dunk Contest Champion’s 5-year deal still has three years left on it. And by the age of 31, he would be earning close to $50 million annually. The fact that Houston was willing to put Jalen Green on the table shows how decided they are to improve their record.

But Fischer had also mentioned that Green’s availability was primarily for getting Brooklyn Nets‘ Mikal Bridges. But the Nets don’t seem in too much of a hurry to let Bridges go. There’s also the fact that the 6’6 27-year-old is hitting free agency in 2026. So, it wouldn’t give the Rockets enough return that warrants the kind of leap they are hoping for.

And LaVine isn’t exactly an upgrade for Houston. Unless the Bulls are open to adding multiple picks to make the Rockets worth their while. But that hadn’t deterred the Bulls from trying all available means to move him.

The Bulls tried their hardest to get their 2x All-Star a landing pad

LaVine had revealed his interest in playing in Los Angeles. And the Lakers did seem interested, for a while. But seeing as how they are already struggling, even with enough talent on the roster, it didn’t seem logical to add another injury-addled player.

Read More: Shaquille O’Neal Sympathizes With Zach Lavine, Advises Him to Stage Protest Against the Bulls as Trade Deadline Draws Closer

The next round was the above-mentioned Houston. But we saw how well that went. And a final try was with the Atlanta Hawks, which in all honesty, was doomed from the start. The possibility of the Hawks trading Dejounte Murray for Zach Lavine is as unlikely as the Warriors trading away Steph Curry.

But he did have an interested franchise in Detroit Pistons. Although the Pistons rank at the bottom in the East, they are starting to find a balance in the Cunningham-Ivey partnership. So adding LaVine could potentially see him taking the command. But all of this came to a standstill, with him opting for a season-ending surgery. Even without this, the Bulls’ asking price of veteran Bojan Bogdanovic and a young player is a steep price for an often injured and massive contract player like Zach LaVine.

What do you think is in the future for LaVine? Will they add in enough assets in a desperate attempt to trade him? Or will the Chicago Bulls pick up where they left off come off-season?

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