Arturas Karnisovas was heavily ridiculed for handling each of the last two trade deadlines the way he did. Last season, the team was not headed for title contention and was nearing the expiration of several key assets' salaries. Yet, Karnisovas held steady, resulting in a Play-In Tournament loss and nothing in return for valuable players such as DeMar DeRozan. This trade deadline, he finally pulled the trigger on sending away Zach LaVine, who had been the face of the franchise for nearly a decade, and the fanbase was less than impressed with the returning package. Three role players and sole possession of their previously protected top-ten draft selection was LaVine's ending value. It was lower than anticipated, when asking Bulls fans, for a two-time All-Star being paid over $40 million annually. Stacey King, the color commentator for the Chicago Bulls, weighed in on the trade and offered a perspective many have not heard yet. Does this change the public perception of Karnisovas, and was the trade worth it?
"Holding The Bulls Hostage"
It's been well known that LaVine was one of the more difficult high-level All-Stars to move each of the last two seasons. His contract is one of the least team-friendly deals leaguewide, he hasn't made an All-Star team in several seasons, he's never been awarded an All-NBA team nod, and he's won one single playoff game in his entire career. The three-point shooting and ability to score at will were the only reasons he could find a new home, but the Bulls had to practically exchange their best player for scraps to get it done. While much of Chicago was happy to see LaVine leave town, they were equally disgruntled with what AK could secure in the deal. Per King, Karnisovas made the wisest decision possible, given the circumstances.
Stacey King on the difficulty of trading Zach Lavine:
— Gimme The Hot Sauce Podcast (@gimmehotsauce21) March 30, 2025
“Teams were basically holding the Bulls hostage”😳 pic.twitter.com/wVHa3SU0CN
Flipped The Script On Both Ends
The most ironic part of the entire trade is that the Kings are now sliding out of the playoff picture in the Western Conference while the Bulls are rising in the Eastern Conference. Without LaVine, they've risen to the ninth seed and earned themselves a home game for the Play-In Tournament. The new additions via the trade have played pivotal roles in the reversal of Chicago's season. They continue to earn themselves a future contract with the Bulls or elsewhere. Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones, and Zach Collins have played above expectations and driven their personal price tag upward with free agency approaching.
Full trade details for the Fox-LaVine blockbuster 📝
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 3, 2025
(via @ShamsCharania) pic.twitter.com/1bAQXptX00
Chicago has won nine of their last 12 outings, with eight to play. Can Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Matas Buzelis continue to shine as the young stars? All three have played some of the best basketball of their respective careers in March.
