Bulls' Zach LaVine Says He Doesn't Think About NBA Trade Rumors Amid Lakers Buzz

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine has been the subject of trade rumors for months, but he's not letting the rumors detract from the mission at hand.

"We're winning," LaVine told reporters Monday. "There's nothing better than that. I don't think about (trades) at all. Unless I get a call from my agent, it's just another day at the office for me. I'm glad to be out here playing. I've been in trade talks for a long time, obviously. I think this year was bigger than years prior. But at the end of the day, it's nothing new."

The Bulls are 4-1 since LaVine returned to the lineup on Jan. 5 and have moved themselves into the playoff picture at 19-22 overall.

While they would be a play-in team if the season ended today, it isn't the result the veteran-laden roster is looking for. The Bulls have not made it past the first round of the playoffs since 2015 and don't have much of an avenue to do so with this roster construction. With DeMar DeRozan set for free agency and Lonzo Ball's future still up in the air after sitting out two straight seasons, the natural assumption is that Chicago will remain a seller before the deadline.

The stellar play of Coby White in LaVine's absence should also give some Bulls fans hope for the future. White is playing the best basketball of his young career, posting career highs nearly across the board, and is under contract with one of the NBA's most manageable deals (two years, $24.9 million).

The Bulls may want to see what they have long-term with White leading the backcourt, and that would come at the expense of LaVine.

The main issue in trading LaVine is his own contract, which carries salaries well over the $40 million mark and runs through 2026-27. LaVine will miss the All-Star Game for the second straight season, and teams are not exactly going to fawn over a 20-point non-All-Star making max money for the next few years.

If Chicago does wind up finding a taker, it may wind up being closer to a salary dump-off than a blockbuster.