The Nets reportedly have checked in on Bulls star Zach LaVine.
The team that’s officially committed harder to Jim Boylen than Phil Jackson may have maniacally chased another star out of town, and potentially into the waiting arms of the Brooklyn Nets?
Rumor has it, in their chase for a third star, the Nets have made initial overtures and background work on a future Zach LaVine trade, as the Bulls continue to alienate their elite scorer.
The one downside? The Knicks will quite likely also be in that forthcoming conversation, which is definitely going to be a reality down the road, considering how close LaVine and Boylen’s relationship has been to bubbling over.
The Knicks and Nets have done background work on potential trade target Zach LaVine, per @IanBegley pic.twitter.com/RHdgCRv9lB
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 24, 2020
Last season, LaVine continued his ascent, scoring 25.5 points per game on 45% shooting, hitting 38% from long range. He narrowly missed an All-Star berth in his current “hometown” of Chicago, though it’s clear the region hasn’t entirely connected with him yet.
That’s likely the fault of who’s in charge.
LaVine found himself glued to the bench by Boylen early in the 2019-20 season due to supposed defensive lapses, and he responded with a fervor, completely taking over the next game he appeared in.
Zach LaVine got benched by Bulls coach Jim Boylen for making “egregious” defensive errors on Friday. LaVine felt “disrespected."
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 24, 2019
His response on Saturday:
⬜️ 49 PTS
⬜️ 17-28 FG
⬜️ 13-17 3PT
⬜️ Game-winner pic.twitter.com/BW1BVba8eY
The anger only mounted as the year dragged on, with LaVine repeatedly made an example of for no discernible reason, while he was by and large Chicago’s only reliable scoring option.
He didn’t exactly keep his frustration a secret, either.
“I have 40 fu-king points”
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 26, 2020
Zach LaVine has had enough of Jim Boylen pic.twitter.com/wCqKGzu921
The Bulls are in a tough spot here. Boylen doesn’t particularly want LaVine, and a trade demand is almost guaranteed, at this point. Why would LaVine stay? He basically asked off the floor repeatedly during this past season.
Though he toiled in relative obscurity this year and hasn’t shed his reputation for inefficiency quite yet, the kid’s only 25 years old, and has many of the traits of an elite shooting guard. Boylen has some major damage control to do here if he doesn’t want teams like the Nets and Knicks to swoop in at the absolute low point of LaVine’s value.
The Nets roster in the bubble isn’t up to par, but this is yet another sign that things will be very different next season.