The trade deadline is just under four days away and the Chicago Bulls have finally pulled the trigger on a Zach LaVine trade. They sent the two-time All-Star to the Sacramento Kings in a three-team deal that also involved the San Antonio Spurs. This move has been a long time coming, as LaVine’s name had been in trade rumors for over a couple of years, with reports of a strained relationship between him and the Bulls’ front office. Now that it’s happened, the reactions from Bulls fans have been exactly what you’d expect: some relief that the LaVine era is over, frustration that the return wasn’t better, and general exhaustion from what has been another disappointing chapter in Bulls history.
The biggest talking point about this trade isn’t just that LaVine is gone, but that the Bulls failed to acquire a first-round draft pick in return. That’s been a recurring theme for the Bulls under Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley—making moves that seem to lack long-term vision. However, there is one silver lining: the Bulls will keep their 2025 first-round pick, which had previously been owed to the Spurs as part of the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade deal from a couple of years ago. That pick had top-10 protection, but now it’s officially back in Chicago’s hands, which could be a major asset as they begin what appears to be a long-overdue rebuild.
Meanwhile, DeRozan and LaVine are now reunited in Sacramento. While they never quite found the level of success together in Chicago that fans had hoped for, they did form one of the more talented offensive duos in the league. Now, they’ll have a chance to build on that chemistry with the Kings, who are looking to take another step forward in the Western Conference. Sacramento has been a solid team but needed another scoring punch alongside De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. With LaVine and DeRozan both capable of creating their own shots and spacing the floor, the Kings’ offense could become even more dangerous. Of course, the concern in Chicago was always about their fit defensively, and it remains to be seen whether the Kings will have similar issues with this duo.
For Bulls fans, the biggest takeaway from this trade is the sense of déjà vu. Once again, the Bulls have moved a major player and failed to get back what most would consider a strong return. While Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter are solid rotational pieces, and Zach Collins adds some frontcourt depth, none of these players move the needle in a way that suggests the Bulls are positioning themselves for long-term success. If anything, it feels like another lateral move, similar to what we’ve seen from this front office time and time again.
The biggest name that Bulls fans think will be moved next is Nikola Vučević. If this is truly a rebuild, then keeping Vučević—who is in his 30s and doesn’t fit the timeline of a rebuilding team—makes little sense. However, trading him might not be as simple as it sounds. His contract, combined with his declining athleticism, makes him a difficult piece to move unless a team is desperate for frontcourt help. The Bulls will likely try to move him before the trade deadline, but the more realistic outcome is that he remains in Chicago until the summer, when more teams will have cap space and flexibility to take on his deal.
Here’s the thing folks: At this point, it’s hard to argue that the Bulls are anything but a team in transition. This trade, for better or worse, signals that they are finally embracing a rebuild rather than continuing to tread water in the middle of the Eastern Conference. But the question now is whether Karnišovas and Eversley are the right people to oversee that process. Their track record suggests otherwise. Since taking over, they have failed to construct a sustainable winning team, and their decision-making in trades has been questionable at best.
With that… If there was ever a time to part ways with Karnišovas, it would be after the trade deadline. If the Bulls are truly rebuilding, they need a fresh set of eyes to steer the franchise in a new direction. The fanbase has grown weary of half-measures and mediocrity, and the last thing anyone wants is for this rebuild to be as uninspiring as the last few years have been.
So while LaVine is gone, the problems with the Bulls remain. The front office is still making questionable moves, the roster is still in flux, and the future remains uncertain. Bulls fans can at least take solace in the fact that change is finally happening. Whether or not it leads to something better is a question that remains unanswered.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!