Zach LaVine could be a possible trade target for the Charlotte Hornets

With literal months before the Charlotte Hornets can make any substantial moves, plenty of trade scenarios will continue to surface as the NBA season plays out. Could they factor into one of those?

For teams like the Charlotte Hornets, who won’t be playing in Orlando in a month’s time, their eyes are on the road to improving the team going into next season. They’ll have to wait a bit before that can happen, of course, but the steps are surely being laid as we speak.

One such step could be in the way of a trade or two and a possible deal the team could make is acquiring Chicago Bull’s guard, Zach LaVine.

The 25-year old out of UCLA just wrapped up his sixth season in the league and he’s been one of the NBA’s most impressive young players, improving every year he’s been in the association. His 25.5 points per game rank 12th in the NBA.

He’s an efficient scorer, too, making 45% of his field goals, including hitting 38% from deep the past season. On top of his scoring, he’s a somewhat capable passer and rebounder, averaging nearly 5 boards and just over 4 assists per contest.

It would appear LaVine’s stock is high. If so, then why would he want to leave the Bulls, especially for a team like the Hornets, who are in a similar situation as Chicago? It’s true both teams are in the midst of rebuilds, but Chicago’s situation is a bit different.

A lot of their struggles are at the hands of injuries and the Bulls’ management knows this. Because of that, LaVine has had to shoulder the majority of the scoring for Chicago by himself, with much of it being all for naught, as evidenced by their record.

It’s a longshot, but perhaps the Charlotte Hornets make a deal for the two-time Slam Dunk Champion.

The team has tried to rebuild around him and even ignoring the injuries, it’s not exactly working out the way both parties would like. Since signing a 4-year, $78 million agreement in the summer of 2018, the Chicago Bulls have won just 44 games.

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If LaVine doesn’t see much improvement from the team on the horizon, he may want to set sail for a new organization. Not to mention that rookie guard, Coby White, emerged as a contender for the starting lineup, possibly alongside LaVine.

In fact, Coby seemingly impressed enough people to win Rookie of the Month honors in February, after scoring 30 or more in three-straight games off the bench.

White, a 6’4″ combo guard out of UNC, struggled at the start of the season, but clearly came into his own during the latter part of the Bulls’ campaign. He scored 13 points a game and was one of the more impressive rookies. Furthermore, you know Chicago loves their guards from North Carolina.

This could cause a similar situation for the Bulls in which the Hornets find themselves. Terry Rozier and Devonte’ Graham were magnificent this past season for Charlotte, but many have wondered if two physically similar guards can continue to work together.

A swap of Lavine and Rozier would work in a financial sense, as their contracts are very much in line, and with the shuffle of one or two pieces (most likely from the Hornets), a trade could take place that might see the two essentially swapped for one another.

It would also allow the Bulls to fully commit to Coby White as their future wing scorer and have Terry compliment him as a more traditional point guard, with some added scoring from the one spot.

Terry put up career-high numbers last year, averaging 18 points on 42% shooting and an impressive 41% from downtown. The team needed his shooting, too, as he and Graham were often the focal points of the offense.

Rozier isn’t the passer Devonte’ Graham is, and operated as more of a combo guard this past season, but he’s certainly an upgrade for the Bulls in terms of the other smaller guards on their roster.

For Charlotte, it would give a definitive answer as to who is the true point guard and while the duo of Rozier and Graham worked well last season, you would prefer a bigger player at the two. LaVine is 6’6″ and would provide that role nicely. Additionally, it would give the Hornets a big name that could draw in more fans.

It also couldn’t hurt to add more scoring to a team that was dead last in the NBA in points per game and with the Hornets set to have around $30 million freed up after expiring contracts, the attraction of even more pieces around him could convince LaVine to consider asking for a trade.

Obviously, there’s no inclination or reasoning to think this is happening or that the Bulls or Hornets are even thinking of moving those particular pieces. And if LaVine were to ask for a trade, I’m sure there are other teams on his radar.

This would almost have to be an offer from the Hornets themselves and they’d have to give up more than just Terry. This is just a possibility among possibilities to consider, but it is one of the more fun scenarios on which to ponder.

Add in LaVine and throw in a top-10 piece from the NBA Draft come October, and you might just have the ingredients for a Charlotte Hornets squad that could challenge for an Eastern Conference playoff spot next year.