As the trade deadline approaches (February 8), two teams appear to be entering the race to acquire Zach LaVine: Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings. The Chicago Bulls shooting guard, currently out due to injuries, is about to return to the court, but since November he has expressed his desire to be traded, becoming a central piece on the market.
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The Kings were the first to express interest in LaVine, looking to form a powerful trio with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. In this scenario, Sacramento’s standout player Keegan Murray is mentioned as a possible target, but sources indicate that the team is not likely to include him in any negotiations, as explained by Sam Amick of The Athletic.
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On the other hand, LaVine has the Kings as one of his preferences, although the Warriors were not mentioned in his preferences. Scott Perry, former GM of the New York Knicks, suggested a trade involving LaVine, but he highlights that the Warriors must carefully evaluate whether acquiring the player would bring them closer to the conference and NBA finals.
During the Hoop Genius podcast, BJ Armstrong suggested the inclusion of Jonathan Kuminga in the possible trade, proposing a package that would involve the young power forward, Draft picks and a high-salary player, such as Chris Paul, whose contract expires at US$30, 8 million. Perry, however, advises against the Warriors including Kuminga in the trade, considering the significant investment made in his development and his potential usefulness in the post-Curry era.