NBA Rumors: Zach LaVine Prefers to Remain with Bulls Past 2025 NBA Trade Deadline

In the latest round of the neverending Zach LaVine trade rumors, the two-time All-Star reportedly wants to stay with the Chicago Bulls for the remainder of this season.

Per NBA insider Jake Fischer, LaVine's preference is to remain in his current spot rather than being dealt prior to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

Fischer noted LaVine's name has recently popped up in multi-team scenarios that would help facilitate Jimmy Butler's trade away from the Miami Heat, but he's not pushing to be dealt even though that won't stop Chicago from moving him if the right offer comes along.

One other option floated by Fischer involved a LaVine-for-Bradley Beal trade.

"Sources say Phoenix, to name one example, could emerge with interest in exploring a swap of Bradley Beal for LaVine, sources said, depending on how the rest of the trade landscape develops in the coming weeks," Fischer wrote.

The latter scenario would seem like a non-starter because Beal has a full no-trade clause that allows him to control where he goes. There's been nothing connecting him to Chicago at this point.

In fact, Beal's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said on the record that rumors of his client being willing to waive his no-trade clause if he could go to the Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers were "created out of thin air."

LaVine has done a good job this season of shifting the narrative around him. He has long been regarded as an "empty stats" player whose individual box score looks good but has no real positive impact on winning games.

While the Bulls (19-26) still aren't a very good team, LaVine is hardly to blame for their struggles. He's averaging 24.0 points on 51.3 percent shooting, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

ESPN's Shams Charania noted on Wednesday that rival executives have "applauded" LaVine's performance, adding he has also impressed Bulls officials with his "professionalism and leadership" this season.

The same issues that have prevented LaVine from being traded in the past are still prevalent. He's making $43 million this season and $46 million next season, plus a $49 million player option for 2026-27.

As well as LaVine has played so far this season, that's a significant financial investment for any team to make for a player who has run hot and cold throughout his career. It's especially difficult to add those salaries with the new collective bargaining agreement restrictions that come if you pass the first or second aprons.

The best time for the Bulls to explore a LaVine trade would be the offseason when more teams have more cap flexibility to take advantage of while they try to maximize a return for the 29-year-old.