7 disgruntled stars that could be traded this summer

Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

Zach LaVine is another player constantly in the rumor mill, seemingly since the day he first put on a Chicago Bulls uniform. A potential rebuild of the franchise could lead to LaVine angling for his exit.

Despite a veteran core including other established stars such as Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan, Billy Donovan’s squad disappointed this season, perhaps because of the interminable absence of Lonzo Ball. The team nearly salvaged themselves in the play-in tournament, but fell to the Miami Heat on Friday and missed the playoffs.

There were reports of friction between DeRozan and LaVine earlier this season. It’s not clear if that will reflect the front office’s thinking for the offseason.

LaVine explored an exit last summer, but ultimately returned to Chicago on a five-year, $215 million extension. Nevertheless, the fresh 28-year-old was even in trade rumors around the deadline, pursued by contenders while the Bulls largely faded into pretenders.

Vucevic could hit free agency this summer and the aging DeRozan is a year away from doing the same. Some of Chicago’s young players are developing, but some aren’t, and the future of Ball seems murky at best.

LaVine may not be interested in sticking around with a team that could be on the precipice of a hard reset, one that would probably linger throughout his contract.