It’s officially trade deadline week, New York Knicks fans. Things officially kicked off on Sunday afternoon when the Nets traded Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks and the best part is that there’s more to come.
New York’s front office reportedly has its eye on several targets, ranging from OG Anunoby to Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt. It will be interesting to see who the Knicks trade for if that’s a route that the front office decides to take.
One name that’s popped up in rumors is Zach LaVine. The Bulls are currently 25-27 and sit in ninth place in the conference, which is actually an improvement from where they were, but still isn’t where they should be. With Chicago struggling in the first half of the season, many have speculated that the team would tear things down and embrace a rebuild. With New York in the hunt for a star, LaVine has been linked to the Knicks.
Most fans can agree that LaVine isn’t the star that the Knicks should trade for, so the latest report should bring some relief. According to ESPN’s Jamal Collier, “rival executives say the Bulls have shown little interest in moving him at the deadline.”
Bulls reportedly have ‘little interest’ in trading possible Knicks target Zach LaVine
Here’s what Zach LaVine had to say recently about his name being brought up in trade rumors:
"“Team’s not playing well, so you’re always going to hear those stories,” LaVine told ESPN last week."
The Bulls signed LaVine to a five-year, $215 million max contract over the summer, and according to Collier, he’s “reiterated his commitment to Chicago.” If LaVine were made available for a trade, his price tag would be high, which is yet another reason why the Knicks shouldn’t be seriously interested in trading for him.
There are other players on the market that would be a better fit in New York anyways. A lot can change between now and Thursday, though, so don’t be too surprised if the Bulls start listening to calls for LaVine. However, as of right now, it doesn’t seem as if Chicago wants to go in that direction.
Knicks fans, don’t expect to see LaVine suit up for New York anytime soon.
Pass or Pursue on 4 Knicks trades for contending pieces
In today's edition of Pass or Pursue, we are looking at four trades centered around adding key role players/veterans to the Knicks roster.