Could the New York Knicks add slam dunk star Zach LaVine via trade? Here’s a look at New York’s best offer for the Bulls star.
The New York Knicks seem to have a clear plan and direction as their franchise moves forward. While it appeared the plan was to tank for another high draft pick, new coach Tom Thibodeau has the team off to a surprising start.
New York is playing with energy and excitement. If they can keep it up over the next several months, perhaps they become a team where superstars finally want to play. Madison Square Garden might be empty of fans right now, but soon enough, it will be an elite destination to watch basketball again.
Fans and analysts have speculated about ways the team could utilize free agency and/or the trade market to accelerate their timeline and add more immediate star power to the roster.
As the team considers their options, one name from another struggling major market may be on the trade block: Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine. The slam dunk superstar has been involved in rumors over the past few seasons.
Let’s take a look at what a move to send LaVine to New York could look like.
The Fit
Zach LaVine would be a nearly perfect trade candidate for the Knicks. While the team seems determined not to part ways with future draft capital, the shooting guard should be noticeably less costly than other established All-Stars.
Players like James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, or Victor Oladipo would each make a massive impact in New York. However, each would also require parting with a massive combination of young talent and picks.
LaVine is a career 17.7 points per game scorer. Most recently, he has averaged 23.7 points per game in 2018-2019 and a career-high 25.5 in 2019-2020. He is a legitimate scoring threat who is capable of producing against competitor’s top defenders. He is also a dynamic scorer who boasts both a dangerous outside shot (he is a 37% career shooter from three-point range) and the ability to attack the basket.
In addition to his scoring skills, LaVine is also a household name. Despite never making an All-Star team, the former lottery pick cemented his star reputation has an all-time great contestant in the annual Slam Dunk contest. The two-time champ is one of the league’s most graceful and fierce finishers above the rim.
If New York is indeed interested in acquiring a star without playing a king’s ransom, a player like LaVine could be an ideal middle-ground. The 25-year-old is also young enough to fit within the same timeline as the rest of the Knicks’ young core.
The Trade
This begs the obvious question: What would a trade that sent Zach LaVine to New York look like? While the former UCLA superstar has yet to crack the tier of top players in the league, he is still a well-respected scorer. He is also one of the most valuable assets for a Bulls team that is striving to reenter postseason contention.
The Bulls will certainly be uninterested in giving up their star at a discounted rate. However, the following offer would be a great starting point.
This trade would allow the Knicks to get a serviceable star, without giving up any of their own picks. They would also retain their core of Mitchell Robinson, RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin. The Bulls on the other hand, would add two young lottery picks in Frank Ntilikina and Kevin Knox, as well as a first round selection via the Mavericks.
If the Bulls were to show serious interest in Knox and Ntilikina, this could be a realistic trade scenario. While the Knicks should be wary of adding talent so quickly in which the team forfeits their chance at the #1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, the addition of a player like LaVine to a competitive young squad is a step in the right direction.
In the event that a trade were completed near the trade deadline, the franchise will be in an excellent position to add star power while still maintaining their tanking strategy, anyway.
Additionally, this move would also give New York one of the most athletic and dynamic offensive attacks in the league. Imagine a world with Immanuel Quickley at the point, LaVine as the other guard, Barrett at small forward, Toppin at power forward, and Robinson at center.
Not only would this be an exciting young core, it would also bring a unique flare and excitement to an otherwise starved basketball market. If you added a top three pick in next season’s draft, the Knicks could have a path toward real relevance in 2021 and beyond.