NY Knicks: 3 reasons Zach LaVine should be trade deadline target

2) LaVine Needs a Change of Scenery. Why Not New York?

Already in his ninth NBA season, LaVine has already had tenures with both the Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. After an 11-19 start to the Bulls’ season, you’d have to think he may be open to a new destination, especially after signing a max contract.

The issue with Chicago’s current situation is it’s a team full of veterans that are expected to click. When the Bulls added former All-Stars in Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan, there were championship expectations. That hasn’t gone as planned through the first 29 games this season.

Additionally, there isn’t much to look forward to within the organization. Sure, the team has a couple exciting young players in the defensive-oriented Patrick Williams and explosive Ayo Dosunmu, but there are no rookies or sophomores who are considered to have a “high ceiling.” You also have to add on the fact that in their trade for Vucevic, the Bulls gave Orlando their first-round pick in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft (top-4 protected).

The bottom line is, if LaVine is to be traded, New York would be a top-tier destination.

First off, Thibodeau has already coached LaVine briefly in Minnesota and could unlock his best defensive potential like he’s known to do with a lot of other guards. Secondly, the Knicks have a young core that plays at an extremely fast pace, which could be an exceptional complement to LaVine’s game.

It doesn’t look like the Bulls are ascending regardless of how you look at it. If LaVine wants to finally make the playoffs for just the second time in his career, a trade to New York would be in his best interest.