5) Zach LaVine - Chicago Bulls
The fact the Chicago Bulls have unsuccessfully tried to trade Zach LaVine for the last year and half speaks volumes about the player and his current situation. He is 29 years old, expensive in Year 3 of his five-year, $215.1 million contract, and has a history of knee issues.
That being said, LaVine is also a walking 30 points when healthy. And his current plight could help the cost.
This hypothetical package could entice the Bulls, who are looking to make a break.
On paper, LaVine works alongside either of the Hawks guards. He and Murray hail from the same region and would be better defensively than with Young and LaVine, whom the Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley floated as a swap option.
LaVine and Young's contracts are identical, making for what Cowley called a “clean swap.”
But Murray was on the trade block this past season. He also has a previous relationship with former San Antonio Spurs teammate DeMar DeRozan,
The anticipated cost of doing business makes this a more likely scenario. The Hawks would add a dynamic satellite scorer and tertiary ball-handler (behind Young and Johnson) who can take over second units in LaVine.
They would lose Bogdan Bogdanovic in this, but he is redundant with LaVine.
It also makes sense to keep Hunter – the best perimeter defender on the Hawks’ roster – if pairing LaVine and Young.