Zach LaVine Trade Rumors: Bulls 'Balked' at Nuggets Including Nnaji in Potential Deal

The Chicago Bulls reportedly want nothing to do with Zeke Nnaji in trade talks with the Denver Nuggets.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported Sunday that the Nuggets are interested in Zach LaVine and may want to land the guard and Torry Craig in a deal for Michael Porter Jr. and Nnaji. However, Stein reported the Bulls "balked at Nnaji's inclusion in such a trade. This is Year 1 of a four-year, $32 million contract for Nnaji that, while descending in value annually, runs through 2027-28."

This comes after Tony Jones and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported Tuesday the Nuggets want offensive help and were looking at a number of potential trade targets, including LaVine.

The idea is that Denver needs someone outside of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray who can make plays with the ball in his hands for the stretch run and Western Conference playoffs. LaVine certainly fits that criteria, and he is also someone who can take advantage of the openings created by Jokić with his outside shooting ability.

Jokić has more on his shoulders than usual this season, as he is averaging a career-high 37.2 minutes per game and shooting a career-high 21 field-goal attempts a night. Denver needs him fresher for the postseason, and adding another offensive difference-maker could help.

But the Bulls have to agree to the deal as well.

And moving LaVine would surely imply they have an eye on the future and building around young assets and perhaps draft picks. While Nnaji is young at 23 years old, taking on his deal would mean a number of years and dollars are tied up into someone who is barely a role player.

Nnaji is averaging 1.3 points and 0.4 rebounds in 4.9 minutes per game this season.

Perhaps a change of scenery will help him unlock something, but that would be an expensive risk for a team like the Bulls that would want to have more money and cap room available to pursue a foundational corner piece down the line.

It's not particularly surprising Chicago wouldn't be interested in taking that on, especially if it can create a bidding war and better return package with other teams potentially interested in LaVine ahead of the February trade deadline.