When it comes to the NBA, the New York Knicks have historically been recognized as one of its biggest markets. On pace with the Lakers, Bulls, and Golden State Warriors, the lure of New York City and the popularity of Madison Square Garden has elevated the Knicks into an iconic basketball brand. But for Zach LaVine, he’d rather observe the Knicks from afar instead of joining the team for himself. As revealed by The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, LaVine and his camp have no desire to join the Knicks and they’ve made it clear that it’s not their preferred outcome in the ongoing trade talks.
“As news buzzed Tuesday about the increased likelihood of Zach LaVine being traded, the Knicks inevitably were thrown into the speculation pool because that’s the nature of a big-market team with assets and needs. But there are multiple reasons a LaVine-to-Knicks deal won’t happen. A source reiterated to The Post this week that LaVine’s camp would prefer not to go to Leon Rose’s squad.”
Rumors have been swirling for months now that the Knicks might have a real interest in acquiring Zach, but it appears the partnership was never meant to be. For whatever reason, LaVine wants nothing to do with the Orange and Blue, who are actually playing pretty well with a 6-5 record on the season.
A Blessing In Disguise For New York
In theory, LaVine would make an explosive pairing with Jalen Brunson but there would be major concerns about the defensive potential of such an undersized backcourt. At 6’5″, Zach has enough height to bother jump shots but it’s never been enough for him to make a noticeable difference on the defensive end of the floor. With the Knicks, LaVine would give them another high-volume scoring threat to challenge their opponents but they’d take several steps back defensively, especially given what they’d have to give up for LaVine.
Of course, that’s not to mention the looming free agency of Donovan Mitchell. If you’re the Knicks, why go all-in for a borderline All-Star like Zach LaVine when you can wait for another year or so and try for Donovan Mitchell instead? No doubt, Leon Rose and the Knicks’ front office are waiting for the right moment to put their chips on the table but they have to be selective in who they pursue. No disrespect to LaVine, but the Knicks have higher ambitions and are probably better off without him anyway.
What’s Next For Zach LaVine?
After seven seasons with the Bulls, time has run out for the Zach LaVine era in Chicago. With averages of 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, he had a solid run with the franchise that resulted in two All-Star selections. Unfortunately, as a team, the Bulls have practically nothing to show for their work over the past 10 years, and with Lonzo Ball out for the rest of this season, that’s unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.
The good news is, the Bulls finally look ready to move on and we could see changes as soon as this season. Now that the Knicks are out of the picture, there’s really nowhere else to look but Los Angeles. With the Lakers starting the season mediocre, they could feel some pressure to make a move and LaVine is currently the best option available in terms of an immediate upgrade in the backcourt.
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