The Chicago Bulls are going to have some tough decisions to make at this year’s NBA trade deadline. Following their tough start to the season, it looked as though they would be certain sellers. However, they’ve since skyrocketed back up the standings, establishing themselves as legitimate Play-In Tournament contenders.
Making things even more complicated is Zach LaVine’s return from injury. Prior to him being sidelined, reports indicated that the Bulls were focused on finding a trade for LaVine. However, he just made his return to action on Friday night after being out since November 28, and the next few weeks could help determine his value on the trade market.
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times recently wrote an article detailing his potential trade case, and he noted that the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings could be two teams to watch out for.
“Keep an eye on Sacramento and Golden State as they battle with inconsistency and tough roster decisions, and then there’s always the unforeseen injury that could happen to a team with deep playoff aspirations,” Cowley wrote. “In other words, a quiet market today could become very loud tomorrow or in the upcoming weeks.”
The Warriors have dealt with a ton of inconsistencies this season, while the Kings have established themselves as a playoff team but not necessarily a title contender.
LaVine’s presence as a scorer and shot-creator would make sense on both teams, but again, his play over the Bulls’ upcoming stretch of games will play a big factor in his potential movement at the trade deadline.
