While the Golden State Warriors were unable to swing a rumored trade for All-Star Pascal Siakam, one prominent NBA insider believes a blockbuster deal for Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine would make a lot of sense for both teams.
The Warriors’ 2023-24 campaign has been one of their worst seasons in recent memory because their legendary big three Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green have been relatively healthy throughout the season. It makes their 18-22 record all the more frustrating and baffling after winning a championship just two years ago.
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That is why there have been growing rumblings in recent weeks that the organization could be wheeling and dealing before the Feb. 8 trade deadline to remodel its aging and overpriced roster. One player who could be on the move is Warriors great Klay Thompson since he and the organization could not agree on a new deal for the impending free agent.
With his talents in a continued decline, chances are the five-time All-Star will be playing elsewhere next season. And, FOX Sports NBA insider Ric Bucher believes there is one player on the trade block who would be a perfect fit to replace Thompson: two-time All-Star Zach LaVine.
NBA insider suggests blockbuster trade between Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls
“I think Zach LaVine would be a good move for the Warriors,” Bucher recently told Sportsnaut. “The Bulls are an expensive underperforming team. So if you said we’ll give you Andrew Wiggins and Chris Paul for Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine, the numbers work. And in a case like the Warriors, Zach LaVine at 28 years old could be the running partner to Steph Curry now in the backcourt.
“If you keep Draymond Green, Zach LaVine doesn’t have to be a playmaker. You have Steph and Draymond there to set him up and he’s electric athletically and that’s what they need. It’s kind of what they miss because Klay Thompson is that no more.”
In Bucher’s mind, the Warriors get the athletic scorer they need long-term, a potential play-maker in Ball — if he does return as expected, and they will have the space to add the money with Wiggins going out in the deal and Thompson’s money coming off the books in the summer.
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The benefit in the deal for the Bulls would be getting out from under LaVine’s deal, which is far more expensive than Wiggins’, and getting a player in Paul who could be a rental mentor for Coby White and has a non-guaranteed contract for next season.