The Lakers, Heat, and 76ers are also expected to pursue the Bulls star’s services.
Many expected teams were rumored to be in line to hand in their offer just to acquire Zach LaVine as the Chicago Bulls continue to be bombarded by a flurry of trade speculations. However, one intriguing team has emerged as a result of this and may seek the services of the high-scoring star.
A “level of interest” in a LaVine trade is expected in Toronto.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Toronto Raptors are being viewed as a team that would have a “level of interest” in LaVine’s trade availability after recently appearing on Bally Sports’ “The Rally.”
“I’m told the Raptors are also expected to be interested in LaVine.” Masai Ujiri is always aggressive in his approach, and the Raptors are a team to keep an eye on, according to Charania.
As a result, Charania also stated that the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers are all expected to compete for the All-Star.
LaVine as a Chicago trade piece
Within the current Bulls core, Zach Lavine is far more valuable than fellow stars Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan. The big man is under contract until 2025-26, while the mid-range specialist star has an expiring contract, which reduces his value in league circles.
Given their current competitive standing and the level of interest they garner as big market teams, the Lakers, Heat, and Sixers are already well-known for their interest in a star.
Toronto’s inclusion in the LaVine sweepstakes sounds intriguing, as the Raptors continue to bolster their core of Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, and OG Anunoby under new coach Darko Rajakovic.
Toronto does not have another dynamic scorer besides Dennis Schröder, so going all in for LaVine makes sense from a contending standpoint.
Only time will tell if the Bulls finally blow it and cut ties with LaVine. In the end, they have no reason to rush with plenty of time remaining this season.
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