The reboot of the NBA is less than a week away with the cameras taking place in Orlando, FL this weekend. However, for teams not located within the bubble, the NBA’s off-season work has just begun for the 2020-2021 season.
This means that the NBA rumor is starting to warm up. The latest rumor comes from New York, where both the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets are said to both have an interest in the Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine.
According to SNY reporter Ian Begley, both franchises have started doing “basic work” on the talented flagship guard.
“According to SNY sources, both teams have done basic work on LaVine to be prepared for the possibility that Chicago will end up listening to commercial offers on the 25-year-old guard,” Begley wrote in a recent column.
LaVine, 25, is still young considering he has been in the NBA for six seasons. This season, he has appeared in 60 games and averaged 25.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals for the bulls.
He averages double numbers in each season and has recently eclipsed 20 points per game in the past two years. The talented guard is crafty and has the ability to score anywhere on the basketball court.
LaVine had a score of 19.5 PER while shooting 45 percent off the field and 38 percent off three points. However, his defense is cause for concern as he continues to improve on that side of the floor.
However, LaVine would be an interesting acquisition for both the Knicks and the networks. The Knicks are looking for the best option to play in the famous Madison Square Garden. The Nets wants to add another director to the NBA superstar duo Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.
The teams asked about LaVine after the NBA’s commercial deadline in February. The Bulls refused to engage in commercial talks at the time. This summer, the Bulls changed their front office when they named Arturas Karnisovas the new team president.