The Knicks are monitoring closely Bulls guard Zach LaVine and the possibility of acquiring it via trade before the March 25 deadline, reports Ian Begley of SNY.
It is uncertain whether Chicago is hearing offers on LaVine, but the Knicks have some recruiting capital that can intrigue the Bulls, Begley notes. New York has its future first-round players and has 2021 and 2023 first-round players from the Mavericks of the Kristaps Porzingis business, although the last of these choices has protections.
The Bulls would likely ask for another young star in any deal involving LaVine, Begley assumes.
THE Immanuel Quickley-LaVine can be Knicks’ long-term solution on the court, as long as they hire him back.
LaVine, 25, becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2022. He is earning $ 19.5 million this season and the next. He can seek maximum money, or close to it, in his next contract.
Before the season, the Bulls rejected openings for LaVine. He is once again posting great statistics – 27.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 39.7% of 3 – but he is also doing 4.3 spins per game. Furthermore, LaVine’s efforts did not translate into victories. Chicago enters the weekend with a record 7-10.
The Networks was also interested in LaVine before acquiring James Harden, Begley adds.