Chicago’s Zach LaVine, if we’re being realistic, is unlikely to be traded before January … if he’s even moved at all.
A trade involving a contract as substantial as LaVine’s is tricky to construct in the best of times and a far more significant undertaking before Dec. 15, for starters, when roughly 25% of the league’s nearly 450 players on standard contracts is still ineligible to be traded.
I think the new CBA rules are having the intended affect. It you’re a playoff team trading for Zach, you have to be damn sure he is the piece that’s gonna push you over contention, because taking his contract hamstrings any future moves he can do.
Problem is no teams feel like their an great #2 scoring option away from a Championship. I really think they missed their window by not blowing it up either last year at the deadline or this summer. Milwaukee for example would’ve been a perfect trade for them before Lillard became available.
I feel like the team that makes the most sense is the Raptors - but even they should really be blowing it up instead of making more win-now moves.
Even better, last season we could have sold high on DeMar and kept Zach
Miami could use him. Warriors too.
Miami is cheap but I think that’s where he ends up and warriors can’t do it iirc they lack the assets