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Warriors reportedly waive Chris Paul despite Zach LaVine trade offer

Posted on by angelo
Warriors reportedly waive Chris Paul despite Zach LaVine trade offer

Zach LaVine’s market is dry.

Reports surfaced Sunday that the Chicago Bulls attempted to attach first-round draft capital to Zach LaVine, but with no teams biting. Now, Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes has shared that the Golden State Warriors have decided to waive Chris Paul rather than use him as part of a deal for the two-time All-Star.

“The Chicago Bulls were trying to offer Zach LaVine to the Golden State Warriors for a package centered around Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins. The Warriors, it was something they didn’t think was feasible. So the discussions didn’t really get going. It was a discussion before the Golden State Warriors made the decision to waive Chris Paul.

Technically, it’s possible that Haynes was expressing that the Bulls had two separate package ideas (one with CP3 and one with Andrew Wiggins), but it certainly appears that Chicago was willing to work out an arrangement where they would pick up both salaries.

The Warriors didn’t want Zach LaVine that badly?

Look, I know these conversations can get complicated and there’s no telling what the final business proposal looked like. But this seems like a pretty interesting business opportunity for the Warriors!

LaVine could slide right in next to Stephen Curry as Klay Thompson’s replacement, offering more off-ball athleticism and a reliable 38.2 percent clip from downtown over his career. The money may be huge, but when the hell has that ever been a concern for the Warriors before? Rumor has it that Golden State is willing to give Paul George the most for crying out loud! While there’s no doubt he’s the better two-way asset, George is also five years older than LaVine and arguably even more injury-prone.

Zach LaVine of the Chicago BullsZach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

I guess I can understand a little desire to keep Wiggins around, as he played a vital role in the team’s 2022 championship run. But they really refused to entertain the idea of ​​turning his multi-year contract and CP3 into LaVine? Wiggins averaged just 13.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season. He also appeared in just 37 games the year before.

We can all agree that LaVine is not the perfect player. His defense continues to be a clear disadvantage and the injury history is a small red flag. Nonetheless, he has consistently been one of the best scorers in the league and one of the most efficient when healthy. Additionally, despite some bumps and bruises, he remained one of the most explosive athletes in the league. The Warriors are a team desperately trying to stay relevant in the West and are losing one of their fundamental pieces. LaVine seems like the kind of gamble they can afford.

The Chicago Bulls may need to consider bringing him back over the next few days. While a surprise suitor could always arise, it might be best for both parties if he adjusts to this restructured team and attempts to recapture some value. I don’t know if these are teams that think the Bulls front office can be easily exploited, but this is getting ridiculous. Arturas Karnisovas and Co. shouldn’t have to beg so much for someone to take LaVine away from them.

Read more about the idea of ​​bringing LaVine back to the United Center here…