Zach LaVine Landing Spots if Chicago Bulls Trade Star Guard This Offseason

More than ever before, the NBA gives us plenty of topics to discuss all 12 months of the year.

While chatter about player movement used to be largely confined to the offseason and ahead of the February trade deadline, the player empowerment era seems to have thrown most of the league's teams into an almost constant state of flux.

In this environment, it's never too early to talk about potential trades. That's especially true of Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, who's been in the rumor mill since long before the most recent trade deadline.

Despite that deadline passing, he's still in the Windy City for now. However, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reported earlier this month that the Bulls "will look to trade LaVine again this offseason."

In February, his trade market may have been suppressed by performance, injuries and a contract that includes a $49 million player option in 2026-27. But LaVine just turned 29 this month and has averaged 24.7 points per game over the last six season.

It only takes one team to look past the potential downsides of acquiring LaVine, and he's still good enough to draw interest from a few organizations this offseason. If (when?) he becomes available again, these teams would be among the best fits.

Philadelphia 76ers

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Joel Embiid and Zach LaVine

The Philadelphia 76ers could look a lot different next season. Right now, the only players they have under contract for 2024-25 are Joel Embiid ($51.4 million) and Paul Reed, whose $7.7 million salary is fully non-guaranteed unless the Sixers win a playoff series).

We can safely assume that Tyrese Maxey will either re-sign with the Sixers this summer or have whatever offer sheet he signs matched. But Philly could still use more firepower to support those two, especially since Embiid has averaged only 42.8 appearances per season since the Sixers drafted him in 2014.

Whenever Maxey plays without Embiid this season, the Sixers score at a rate that ranks in the 60th percentile leaguewide. A healthy LaVine could help on that front.

Over the five seasons prior to this one, LaVine had generally been a boost to his team's offensive ratings. His high-volume three-point shooting would help when Embiid is on the floor, too.

Since the start of the 2018-19 season, LaVine has averaged 2.7 threes while shooting 38.5 percent from deep. With that kind of shooting on one flank and Maxey's on the other, Embiid's catches in the middle of the floor would be harder for defenses to collapse on.

LaVine probably wouldn't help a ton on defense, but if you start with an offense-first core with those three and build out with grit and defense from there, the Sixers could be in the title hunt for the next few years of Embiid's prime.

The reigning MVP turns 30 this month and has a lengthy injury history. Finding another star to carry some of his burden could preserve the rest of his prime.

Orlando Magic

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Zach LaVine and Paolo Banchero

The Orlando Magic could easily justify a patient, measured build with the young core that they already have in place.

They currently have a top-five defense despite having the fourth-youngest roster in the league. Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs are already plus defenders, and 21-year-old forward Paolo Banchero certainly has the potential to get there as well. Jonathan Isaac might be the best per-minute defender in the league.

Orlando could just bank on internal growth and add low-usage role players to foster that development. But the Magic also have a bottom-10 offense and some potential cap space this summer that they could use to absorb some of LaVine's salary before the second contracts of Wagner and Banchero and kick in.

If any team might be able to cover for some of LaVine's defensive deficiencies, it's probably one with the length, athleticism and switchability of Suggs, Wagner and Banchero.

Los Angeles Lakers

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Zach LaVine and LeBron James

It may seem like national outlets are obligated to pigeonhole the Los Angeles Lakers into every discussion like this, but there is some legitimate logic to LaVine landing there.

LaVine is a Klutch client, the same agency that represents LeBron James. The King also reportedly gave the organization his blessing to pursue LaVine at the deadline.

"James has long wanted a star ball-handling sidekick," Sam Amick, Anthony Slater, Jovan Buha wrote for The Athletic. "James was also in support of the Lakers trading for Dejounte Murray or Zach LaVine."

Since then, L.A.'s offense has improved, and Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell have both had moments when they looked like stars. However, neither has reached the scoring heights that LaVine has in recent years.

While LaVine's injury history and contract make him a gamble for any team, the Lakers having a consistent 20-point-per-game scorer as LeBron ages into his 40s could take some pressure off him. LaVine's outside shooting could pull some defensive attention away from Anthony Davis inside, too.

San Antonio Spurs

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Devin Vassell and Zach LaVine

Like Orlando, the San Antonio Spurs could justify a slower rebuild, especially with multiple potential stars in the 2025 draft (including Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey) that they could pair with Victor Wembanyama.

But Wemby, who's now the clear favorite to win Rookie of the Year, is way ahead of schedule. Catch-all metrics suggest he's been one of this season's top 20 players, and he's played well enough to support some win-now moves from the Spurs this summer.

Ideally, that would mean a high-end distributor to make Wembanyama's life easier. The dream scenario there is Trae Young, whom the Spurs reportedly inquired about ahead of this season's trade deadline.

But if the Atlanta Hawks dig their heels in on that potential move, LaVine would be a solid Plan B. He wouldn't directly create the same kind of open looks for Wembanyama that Young would, but having him on the floor would give defenses another 20-point-per-game scorer to be aware of.

With LaVine and Devin Vassell spacing the floor, it would be more difficult for opponents to load up on Wembanyama's paint touches.