The Warriors reportedly see Zach LaVine as a safer option than Jimmy Butler. At 29, he’s younger and cheaper—but health concerns remain. Would you make this move?
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A lot can change once the ball is tipped, and this is exactly what has happened for the Warriors. The organization is staring at a 23-23 regular season record, which currently has them ranked 11th in the Western Conference. In other words, Stephen Curry’s squad isn’t even a lock for a potential Play-In Tournament spot with only a few months to go. And this has the front office mulling their options as the trade deadline nears.
Most recent reports have tied the Warriors’ front office to a marginal move. Nikola Vucevic, in particular, has been repeatedly named as one of the Warriors’ top trade targets. However, as the Feb. 6 trade deadline inches closer, it sounds like Mike Dunleavy Jr. is starting to think bigger. Jimmy Butler has reportedly re-emerged as a possible target, as the price continues to drop for the Heat superstar after Miami suspended him indefinitely. But he isn’t the only big name Golden State is considering, according to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater and Marcus Thompson II.
“Team sources have downplayed their recent involvement in conversations with the Heat, but there’s been a noticeable increase in intrigue from the front office about the idea of Butler at a bargain.
After pulse-taking conversations with multiple players, it seems Zach LaVine might peak more interest, depending on his cost,” Slater and Thompson II wrote.
You can read The Athletic’s full intel piece on the Warriors here.
Zach LaVine Now An Option for Golden State?
Well, well, well … look how the tables have turned!
For those who may not recall, the Warriors were speculated time and again as a possible LaVine landing spot during the offseason. This is precisely why they had to make it known they had “no appetite” for the two-time All-Star in August. We also saw them double down by waiving Chris Paul instead of reportedly attempting to use him in a trade for LaVine. Ouch!
Since then, LaVine has done nothing but play some of the best basketball of his career. He is averaging 24.0 points per game on career-high efficiency, propelling him to an On/Off differential of +10.1, per Cleaning the Glass. His fit with the Warriors makes a ton of sense, so much so that we have been talking about it for months!
For the sake of not repeating myself, here is a little snippet from our article from December:
“Zach LaVine could immediately insert himself as the reliable secondary scorer the Warriors need. The team has tried to fill the Klay Thompson hole with a role-playing sharpshooter like Buddy Hield or a developing youngster like Brandin Podziemski. Neither holds the scoring upside of LaVine, particularly when we consider his ability to create off the dribble.
More importantly, though, is everything LaVine can do off the ball! His elite catch-and-shoot jumper and high-flying athleticism would add a new layer to the Warriors offense. For a team that prides itself on constant movement and long-range shooting, it’s easy to envision LaVine playing within that system, especially now!
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Now, if you want to toss out the contract concerns, I don’t have a great rebuttal. There is no denying that the two years, $95.0 million remaining on his contract is a steep price to pay. But when have the Warriors been afraid to go deep into the luxury tax? Yes, the new CBA has changed a lot of the thinking around the league. This undoubtedly plays a role in how LaVine’s contract is currently viewed. But, again, there is a sense of urgency here for the Warriors! LaVine is also at least playing at a level that makes that payday more palatable.”
Maybe if the Warriors were avid BN readers, they wouldn’t have waited this long to face reality! In all seriousness, it sounds like LaVine’s fit is something that is finally being talked about around the Chase Center.
Here is a little more from The Athletic’s latest report:
“With Jonathan Kuminga considered essentially off the table for any deal involving Butler or LaVine, adding one of the premier wing players has gained some favor. And if such a deal is possible, the idea of LaVine joining their midst has prompted some intrigue among key stakeholders. The presumption is he’d be a better fit in said culture.
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LaVine is viewed by some within the organization as the safer option. At 29, he’s five and a half years younger and some $6 million cheaper than Butler this season, though his contract extends longer and he’s had some recent health concerns. There are risks all over the board.“
Is it possible that the Warriors decide to go with the more playoff-proven piece in Jimmy Butler? Absolutely, and I don’t think anyone would blame them for doing so. But LaVine has far more potential to be the explosive secondary scoring type they seem to covet, and I don’t think we should underestimate that terms like “safer option” are being thrown out.
For what it’s worth, I also wonder if the fact the Bulls and Warriors have been chatting about Nikola Vucevic makes a potential LaVine deal any more likely. There has been a clear dialogue between these two teams for weeks, and I would be surprised if Arturas Karnisovas has not brought up LaVine’s name at all. Perhaps the Warriors have a solid idea of what the Bulls would want in return for him and don’t hate it, which is part of the reason why this rumor is now emerging.
I’m not going to hold my breath, to be clear. This would still be a pretty massive trade to pull off over the next week, and sending Nikola Vucevic to The Bay would be easier for both sides. If one thing is for sure, though, all this smoke is making it feel more and more likely that the Bulls will finally make a deadline move.
