Shams Charania of The Rally reports that the Toronto Raptors are once again considered one of the teams to watch in Zach LaVine trade talks with the Chicago Bulls. “The Raptors are expected to have some interest in Zach LaVine,” Charania told ESPN. “Masai Ujiri is always aggressive in his approach and it would be interesting team with Zach LaVine if you’re able to keep guys like Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, and OG Anunoby.”
To stay under the luxury tax threshold, a deal for LaVine without any of Toronto’s three core players would have to include Gary Trent Jr., Chris Boucher, and Thacher Young. The Raptors could then add up to two first-round picks in 2028 and 2030, as well as three second-round picks in 2028 and 2030, or any combination of those picks and swaps, including a first-round pick in 2029. According to Yahoo’s Jake Fischer, LaVine has expressed interest in being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, or San Antonio Spurs.
The two-time All-Sar is averaging 22.6 points, three assists, and five rebounds per game while shooting 42.4% from the field and 33.3% from three.
He is in the second year of a five-year, $215 million contract with a player option for the fifth year.
A deal is not expected to happen until December 15, when most players who signed free-agent contracts this offseason will be eligible to be traded. Dennis Schröder, Jakob Poeltl, and Jalen McDaniels cannot be traded for Toronto until December 15. The actual trade deadline is February 8th.
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