The Golden State Warriors reportedly had an opportunity to acquire a two-time NBA All-Star this weekend but turned it down. According to TNT’s Chris Haynes, the Warriors rejected a trade offer from the Chicago Bulls that would have brought guard Zach LaVine to the Bay Area.
“I was told the Chicago Bulls were trying to get something going with the Golden State Warriors, trying to get a Zach LaVine package together,” Haynes revealed Sunday on NBA TV’s “Free Agent Fever.” He further explained, “What I was told was it could have been a Zach LaVine for a Chris Paul or Andrew Wiggins. From how it was explained to me, the Warriors didn’t feel that was an adequate amount for a deal structure, so things didn’t go as planned, and that fell through, leading to the Golden State Warriors choosing to release Chris Paul.”
Haynes added that it was Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy who delivered the news to Chris Paul.
The proposed trade would have involved Paul or Wiggins, potentially including other assets. LaVine, along with New Orleans Pelicans guard Brandon Ingram, had been mentioned as possible targets for the Warriors after they failed to secure a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for star forward Paul George.
LaVine, 29, struggled with various injuries last season, including back, foot, shoulder, and ankle issues, limiting him to just 25 games. Despite these setbacks, he averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from 3-point range. LaVine still has roughly $138 million owed to him over the next three seasons on his current contract.
On Sunday, Golden State waived Chris Paul, allowing the veteran guard to explore free agency. Paul quickly agreed to a one-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs. Additionally, the Warriors are reportedly looking to trade Andrew Wiggins, who has two years and approximately $54 million remaining on his contract, with a $30 million player option for the 2026-27 season.
Despite the Warriors’ apparent willingness to move on from both Paul and Wiggins, the Bulls’ proposed trade package involving LaVine was deemed too costly. Declining the trade reflects Golden State’s strategic considerations as they navigate their roster decisions and future plans.