As the Philadelphia 76ers continue to analyze the best course of action regarding their future with James Harden, who requested a trade back in June, the team has been linked yet again to Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine.
NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson reports that the Sixers have been involved in trade talks with Chicago around the two-time All-Star, saying:
“The LaVine trade chatter isn’t going away. In fact, league sources said that LaVine has landed in preliminary conversations with both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Portland Trail Blazers, who are working with James Harden and Damian Lillard, respectively, to find them new homes.
While neither of those conversations gained traction for now, the fact that Lavine continues to be discussed only underscores the speculation that multiple rival executives voiced to NBC Sports Chicago during the NBA Draft Combine in May: Will LaVine finish his five-vear maximum contact with the Bulls?”
— K.C. Johnson, NBC Sports Chicago
While Johnson appears quickly douses cold water on the news for Sixers fans, he follows it up with the all-important “for now.” As Johnson stated, Zach LaVine’s name will continue to be floated in the rumor mill, and while the Blazers may have ruled themselves out of the contest as they look to now trade Damian Lillard, the Sixers have not apparently done so, at least not yet.
This is not the first time Philadelphia has been connected to LaVine either. Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported last week that the Bulls are a team to “keep in mind” regarding James Harden trade talks, with both Zach LaVine and forward DeMar DeRozan being named as potential targets. Harden’s preferred landing spot continues to be in Los Angeles with the Clippers; however, as is the case in the very public Damian Lillard situation, that decision truly lies with the Sixers.
While the future of both James Harden and Zach LaVine remains uncertain, the situation remains undeniably fluid.
More to come, so stay tuned.
