Why the Knicks shouldn't trade for Zach LaVine

Under the NBA's new CBA, the goal of front offices won't just be assembling a competitive roster but, instead, compiling a balanced team that is both talented and affordable.

During the offseason, when rumors were rampant, I addressed a slew of potential trade candidates attached to the Knicks. Some, I argued, were worth ponying up for. Other, not so much. 

One player I thought the Knicks would be foolish to target was Chicago's Zach LaVine. A few months later, I remain convinced giving valuable draft capital and/or young talent locked into team-friendly contracts in exchange for LaVine would be a major mistake. Within the last week, the LaVine buzz has once again boiled the surface following a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic that both the Bulls and LaVine are "increasingly open" to the idea of exploring a trade involving the two-time All-Star. 

At the trade deadline last February, the Chicago Sun-Times' Joe Cowley reported New York and Chicago discussed the possibility of shipping the shooting guard to NYC.

According to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, the Bulls held exploratory talks on LaVine over the summer, but their asking price was very high at that time. Per Johnson: "The unanswerable question for now is: Does that price drop in light of Bulls' struggles? But players are very aware that change could be afoot if matters don't improve."

The Bulls fell again on Wednesday, getting blown out by the Thunder. The defeat dropped Chicago to 5-11 on the season and 1-5 on the road. LaVine was listed as probable for the matchup in OKC until roughly 30 minutes before tip-off, when the team announced he would not suit up due to right foot soreness.

One recent report suggested LaVine is still upset about being benched by head coach Billy Donovan late in a game last year in which he was 1-of-14 from the field. Speaking with reporters last week, LaVine didn't deny speculation that he was open to being traded.

At this point, it seems as if it's only a matter of time before the Bulls start dismantling their disappointing roster. LaVine, DeMar DeRozan (a pending free agent), Nikola Vucevic and Alex Caruso are all expected to draw interest from other NBA clubs circling the Bulls' carcass. As others have commented, Chicago is in a rebuild; they just may not know it yet. 

Fortunately for Knicks fans, New York is on the other end of the spectrum, as they are a team on the rise with plenty of flexibility moving forward. They own the rights to ten first-round draft picks over the next seven years and don't have a single player on their roster making over $30 million annually.