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The Chicago Bulls have taken another step toward their long-overdue rebuild.
Shipping Zach LaVine away to the Sacramento Kings got his massive salary off their books, and they managed to get their own first-round pick back.
Perhaps they could’ve and should’ve gotten better value for LaVine, who was having an outstanding season, but the Bulls will take that.
Now, they might be looking to move on from another veteran.
According to a report by Evan Sidery of Forbes, they’re trying to get someone to trade for Lonzo Ball.
Lonzo Ball, Ben Simmons and Bojan Bogdanovic are the most likely top buyout candidates this year.
The Bulls are shopping Ball ahead of the trade deadline in exchange for second-round draft capital. pic.twitter.com/DpF3Evx94k
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) February 3, 2025
They’re reportedly looking to get some second-round picks in return for the UCLA product.
Ball missed more than two years of basketball with a bizarre knee injury.
He’s been ramping up his minutes, and if he stays healthy, he could be a massive boost for any championship-caliber team.
Perhaps a second-round pick for him isn’t great value, but given his long and worrisome history of injuries, teams might be hesitant to pay a prime price for his services, and he’s also making a lot of money.
Sidery notes that if the Bulls do not trade him, he will find himself alongside Ben Simmons and Bojan Bogdanovic as one of the top buyout candidates in the league right now.
Ball’s exceptional court vision and passing skills are a major asset, and even though he was away from the game for a long time, he remains a strong defender and rebounder.
He can also stretch the floor with his shooting, and multiple teams should be interested in his services.
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