It’s somewhat fitting that the Sacramento Kings, specifically, were the team to knock the Golden State Warriors out of the 2024 postseason. For the bulk of their decade-long dynasty, the Kings were Golden State’s doormat. The Warriors went 23-7 against their neighbors to the north between the 2014-15 and 2021-22 seasons. The Kings never reached the playoffs in that span. They finally did a season ago, and they pushed the Warriors to the brink in a seven-game war. Golden State just barely survived. This time, in the Play-In Tournament, they weren’t so lucky.

Life comes at you fast in the NBA. Dynasties never live quite as long as you hope, and their deaths are often swifter and more brutal than you can possibly imagine. The Warriors lasted long enough for even the lowly Kings to catch up to them. Now, they’re at the end of their contending cycle, and for perhaps the first time in this entire run, the dynasty is truly at risk of ending, not because the Warriors will never contend again, but because the holy trinity of superstars that made it possible may finally break up.

Klay Thompson is set to become a free agent this offseason. For the bulk of Golden State’s tenure atop the league, the thought of a Splash Brother ever waiving goodbye seemed impossible. But things have changed. Thompson is no longer a superstar. He went scoreless in Tuesday’s season-ending loss and just averaged below 20 points per game for the first time since 2014. For a stretch earlier in the season, he wasn’t even a starter. He ceded that position to rookie Brandin Podziemski before ultimately claiming the spot back later on. Golden State reportedly offered Thompson a two-year, $48 million extension last offseason. It’s hard to imagine them going much higher with Podziemski waiting in the wings to replace him. Thompson has said he’s open to a smaller role if it means staying with Golden State. A smaller role and a smaller deal aren’t necessarily the same things.

Thompson obviously won’t command another max contract in his current state, but the market is breaking right for him to get a significant chunk of change. Grayson Allen just re-upped in Phoenix for $70 million over four years, establishing a market for shooters in the $20 million per year range. Removing Allen from the market also gives Thompson less competition in free agency. Malik Monk’s injury might do the same. Without another strong playoff performance, he appears somewhat likelier to re-sign in Sacramento using Early Bird Rights.

Seven teams are currently looking at $20 million or more in cap space this offseason. Most of them could use shooting. If Monk does indeed stay put, Thompson becomes the obvious target for anyone looking for an offensive jolt. The Orlando Magic have already been linked to him.

The fit is obvious. The Magic have pathways to over $45 million in cap space. They ranked 29th in 3-point attempts and 22nd in offense this season, but their No. 3-ranked defense is more than equipped to cover for his age-related deficiencies on that end of the floor. The Magic are about to begin their first playoff run of this era. Experience will be vital as they attempt to make the leap from playoff team to genuine contender. Thompson offers plenty of it.

Fred VanVleet set something of a model for this sort of free-agency pursuit last offseason when he landed what was functionally a two-year max deal with the Houston Rockets. That contract got the Rockets the short-term help they needed without exposing them to long-term risk, effectively setting VanVleet up as a bridge point guard until Amen Thompson would hopefully be ready to replace him. Orlando, with plenty of young guards in the pipeline and the trade assets to land more later, may be eyeing a similar path. The Magic wouldn’t go to the max for Klay, but their cap space gives them room to offer a shorter deal at a higher immediate cap figure that would make matching a deal particularly painful for Golden State.

The Warriors have racked up nearly $628 million in estimated luxury tax bills alone over the past four seasons, according to Spotrac. That approach isn’t sustainable no matter how much revenue Golden State’s fancy new arena generates. Owner Joe Lacob has said openly that his preferred plan for next season would be to avoid the luxury tax entirely.

Is that feasible? Well, maybe, but perhaps not sustainably. The projected tax line for next season is $172 million. At present, the Warriors have only $134 million or so committed in salary for next season. However, that only accounts for eight players, not including the impending free agent Thompson or Chris Paul, Kevon Looney and Gui Santos, whose deals are not guaranteed. The Warriors could conceivably fill out the roster while retaining Thompson and possibly Paul while staying below the line, but it’s hard to imagine them improving in any significant way while doing so.

More importantly, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody become extension-eligible this offseason. Kuminga’s extension alone is likely to vault Golden State’s payroll back up into the stratosphere. That makes guaranteeing Thompson any long-term money potentially impossible. With both earning high-end salaries in the 2025-26 season couple with existing contracts for Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors would be right back in repeater tax territory. Good luck finding a trade taker for Wiggins after the season he just had or Green given his disciplinary issues.

Ultimately it’s just money. Joe Lacob has a lot of it. The Warriors earn plenty thanks to the Chase Center. If they want to pay Thompson what it takes to bring him back, they could probably find a way. Would it be worthwhile for a team that just finished No. 10 in the Western Conference?

Head coach Steve Kerr was part of a dynasty in Chicago. He saw it end after the 1998 championship, and the culprit was the same one that will likely bring down the Warriors. “I think ultimately the reason the Bulls were broken apart was that everyone’s contract ended in 1998,” Kerr said in a 2005 episode of ESPN Classic’s Top 5 Reasons You Can’t Blame… which centered around the end of Chicago’s dynasty. “I think it was unrealistic to expect the team to all of a sudden just say, ‘sure, we’ll put together a $100 million payroll and try to win one more championship.'”

If one more championship were on the table for Golden State, such a payroll (adjusted for inflation, of course) might be a worthwhile risk. It just doesn’t seem like there are any more championships left to be squeezed out of this group. Now that even the Kings have outgrown the Warriors, the reality of the dynasty ending may finally set in. There is a good chance Thompson just played his last game as a Warrior, but whether he has or hasn’t, the end of this legendary run is near.

For the third time in the past five seasons, the Golden State Warriors will not be participating in the playoffs. Their campaign came to an end on Tuesday night with an embarrassing 24-point loss to the Sacramento Kings in the 9 vs. 10 game in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament.

The defeat raises significant questions about the team’s future with an aging, extremely expensive core that no longer seems capable of competing at the top of the West. It appears, though, that they are going to forge ahead with Steph Curry leading the way.

They have “no interest” in tanking, according to Zach Lowe, and plan to “make the most of Curry’s remaining seasons.”

Curry, now 35 years old, showed some signs of slowing down this season. While he still had plenty of big nights and magical moments, he was more inconsistent than ever. He shot under 40% from the field in 28 of his 74 appearances, the most such games in any season of his career. He is signed through 2026, however, and is still too good to allow them to tank. They would have to trade him to truly sink to the bottom, and that is simply not going to happen.

The question, then, becomes how to build the best supporting cast to maximize Curry’s last few All-Star level seasons.

On that note, here’s what Lowe had to say about some of the key figures on the Warriors:

Draymond Green

The former Defensive Player of the Year missed 21 games through suspension this season for multiple on-court incidents, including choking Rudy Gobert and hitting Jusuf Nurkis in the face. It’s no surprise, then, that Lowe notes Green’s “volatility has worn on several within the organization.”

At the same time, Green is still a terrific defender and smart playmaker who understands, perhaps better than anyone, how to play with Curry. Even with all the antics, Green remains more valuable to the Warriors than any other team and is owed $77 million over the next three seasons. He does not appear to have much trade value and, thus, is likely to stick around.

Klay Thompson

If the Warriors’ big three splits up this summer, it will be because Thompson signs elsewhere. He is expected to draw interest from other teams when he hits unrestricted free agency this summer. Per Lowe, there have been “no substantive talks between the team and Thompson’s representatives about a new deal for months.”

Thompson’s age and injuries appeared to catch up to him in a major way this season. He averaged fewer than 20 points per game for the first time since 2014, and there were far too many nights where he simply didn’t have it. The Play-In loss to the Kings was a perfect example, as he scored zero points on 0-of-10 from the field, including 0-6 from behind the arc.

It’s one thing to keep franchise heroes who are already under contract. But will the Warriors be willing to give Thompson another big contract just for nostalgia’s sake? And will Thompson even want to return to the Bay Area? It would be strange to see Thompson in a new jersey, but a fresh start could be best for both parties.

Jonathan Kuminga

This was a strange season for Kuminga, who was so frustrated by his lack of playing time early on that he or his camp leaked to the media that he was “losing faith” in Warriors coach Steve Kerr. In the end, he won that battle, as Kerr gave him a chance, and he averaged 18.7 points and 5.4 rebounds on 54.2% shooting after that report.

Of all the Warriors’ young talent, Kuminga has the most potential. While that gives the Warriors an incentive to keep him around, it also makes him the player other teams would be most interested in should the Warriors investigate the trade market. Furthermore, the Warriors do have depth at Kuminga’s position, which could make him expendable.

He is eligible for an extension this summer and the Warriors “brain trust remains very high on his potential.” This is probably the most fluid situation. The Warriors might like to keep him, but you never know what could emerge on the trade front.

Chris Paul

Thompson wasn’t the only veteran who struggled in the Warriors’ Play-In loss. Paul finished with three points and two assists on 1-of-3 shooting in 18 minutes on Tuesday night. That brought a frustrating season to a close for the veteran, who remains without a ring. A broken hand cost him nearly two months, and he had to adjust to a bench role for the first time in his career.

Paul’s $30 million contract for next season is non-guaranteed, and the Warriors have plenty of options. They could guarantee that deal and bring him back, use the big cap number to trade him, or release him before the guaranteed date of June 28. At this point, it’s unclear what the Warriors will do with Paul.

Where he suits up next season remains to be seen, but he will be playing somewhere. Paul said following the loss tot he Kings that he has no plans to retire.

As managing director for Team USA, Grant Hill has had a busy schedule surprising players with their jersey for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

His first stop was Philadelphia, where he surprised Joel Embiid. The 76ers center became an American citizen in September 2022, but he also had the chance to represent France or his homeland Cameroon, if they qualified. However, Embiid said last October he would compete with Team USA in honor of his son, Arthur, who is American.

Hill has long known Embiid’s commitment, but he still wanted to make a formal invite in person.

“I came to you almost two years ago, you were the first guy I went to, and you are the first guy now that I’m reaching out to,” Hill told Embiid. “We would like to formally invite you to play this summer. I know we’ve talked a bunch, but I wanted to come in person.”

He stays repping the red, white & blue!

Welcome to the 🇺🇸 #USABMNT @JoelEmbiid! pic.twitter.com/IH90pkGU6C

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) April 17, 2024
After Philadelphia, Hill also headed to Boston to surprise Celtics’ Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum.

“Are you good? Are you with us?” Hill asked after showing up at Tatum’s doorstep and showing him his Team USA jersey.

“Hell yeah,” Tatum replied.

Hill then found himself in Holiday’s kitchen. The point guard’s daughter, J.T., ran to his room to get him.

“Jrue, I know you don’t like surprises but I wanted to come on behalf of USA Basketball and ask you to be a part of things this summer at the Paris Olympics,” Hill said.

J.T. helped out by handing her dad his jersey.

“I think to represent my country and my family is the most important thing, so I’m super honored and very humble,” Holiday said.

Along for another Olympics!

Let’s go get another gold @Jrue_Holiday11 & @jaytatum0 🤝

🇺🇸 #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/SxuFhu5rmx

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) April 17, 2024
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo’s special moment was also captured on camera when, in front of his teammates, he was given his jersey by head coach Erik Spoelstra.

“I feel like I’m going to look real swole in it,” Adebayo said.

We had to bring some Heat to Paris 🔥

Welcome back @Bam1of1!

🇺🇸 #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/KMCCIHDZ8S

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) April 17, 2024
The full roster is made up of Embiid, Tatum, Holiday, Adebayo, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards and Anthony Davis. Team USA will be led by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. His staff includes Spoelstra, Gonzaga men’s basketball’s Mark Few and the LA Clippers’ Tyronn Lue.

The team will start their preparation with training camp in Las Vegas on July 6, then follow with five exhibition games in Vegas, Abu Dhabi and London.

The San Antonio Spurs, losers of 13 straight games, look to get back on the winning track as they travel east to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday evening. The Spurs (3-15) enter off a 137-135 loss to Atlanta on Thursday, while the Pelicans (10-9) defeated the 76ers 124-114 on Wednesday. New Orleans swept all four of the matchups between these two teams last season, winning all by at least nine points. San Antonio is 6-11-1 against the spread, while New Orleans is 11-7-1 ATS in 2023.

Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The Pelicans are 13.5-point favorites in the latest Spurs vs. Pelicans odds according to the SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 237.5 points. Before entering any Pelicans vs. Spurs picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 6 of the 2023-24 NBA season on an 86-50 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Spurs vs. Pelicans. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Pelicans vs. Spurs:

Pelicans vs. Spurs spread: Pelicans -13.5
Pelicans vs. Spurs over/under: 237.5 points
Pelicans vs. Spurs money line: Pelicans -859, Spurs +580
Pelicans vs. Spurs picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Spurs can cover
San Antonio lost a franchise high 16 straight games last season and is approaching that mark with only three games to spare. However, the team is showing promise and remains fairly competitive most nights. While No. 1 overall pick, Victor Wembanyama, has been ruled out tonight due to a hip injury, the Spurs have several other young players who could shine with a bigger spotlight.

San Antonio has four players averaging double-digits outside of Wembanyama including guard Devin Vassell (18.6 PPG) and forwards Keldon Johnson (16.9), Zach Collins (13.9), and Jeremy Sochan (11.6). This is a very young team whose potential is most likely to be realized in future seasons. Defensively, the Spurs have struggled, giving up the third-most points per game (124.1) and will have to lock down more efficiently to keep tonight’s game within reach. See which team to pick here.

Why the Pelicans can cover
Former No. 1 overall pick, forward Zion Williamson, is finally healthy and playing at an elite level of late. In each of his last six games, Williamson has scored at least 25 points, improving his season average to 24.0 points per game. Additionally he’s averaging nearly six rebounds and five assists nightly and is impacting the game in all facets.

Tied with Williamson for the team’s scoring lead is forward Brandon Ingram (24.0 PPG), who had his streak of 12 straight 20-plus point games snapped on Wednesday night (15 vs. Philadelphia). The former No. 2 overall pick averages 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, and along with Williamson and guard CJ McCollum, forms a formidable trio which is hard for other teams to stop. McCollum returned from a three week absence to score 20 points in 28 minutes on Wednesday night. See which team to pick here.

How to make Spurs vs. Pelicans picks
The model has simulated Pelicans vs. Spurs 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it also says one side of the spread is hitting nearly 60% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

The Detroit Pistons have amassed a ton of promising, young talent in recent years but are amid an ugly losing streak at the beginning of the 2023-24 season. Jaden Ivey, the fifth overall pick from the 2022 NBA Draft, is one of the several pieces Detroit is still trying to figure out. While he was one of last year’s top rookies, he began this campaign in a reserve role without any warning from the Pistons’ staff.

“There wasn’t anything said,” Ivey told Yahoo Sports when addressing the build-up to him coming off the pine. “Once I saw what was going on, coming off the bench was no problem for me. I love every single one of these dudes in here. I’d ride for them any day. Coming off the bench isn’t a confidence thing or a downer for me. I’m still confident in my game and play the same way.”

Ivey logged at least 28 minutes in his first four starts of the season but has since fallen short of 20 minutes in his previous two outings. Detroit benched Ivey for Killian Hayes on Thursday against the New York Knicks and seemed to prefer 2025 first-round pick Marcus Sasser over him in that competitive matchup.

The Pistons seem adamant about continuing to mix things up as they look to turn things around. Detroit’s lineup decisions moving forward are worth keeping an eye on, as Ivey could be a valuable trade target alongside Bojan Bogdanovic this season.

Six NBA games are set to tip off Friday’s slate. The Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards will get things started at 7 p.m. ET and the Denver Nuggets will wrap the slate up with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns. Looking for a sports betting edge ahead of tip-off? We’ve got you covered with three worthwhile plus-money options.

Bismack Biyombo under 9.5 rebounds + assists (+100)
Neither the Dallas Mavericks nor Memphis Grizzles are particularly strong rebounding teams, but Biyombo hasn’t hit this total in his previous five games. Xavier Tillman has missed six games but is questionable for Friday and could take a significant chunk of Biyombo’s playing time. I like this number whether Tillman suits up or not and it’ll only sweeten things if the Michigan State product is ready to return ahead of tip-off.

Zach Collins over 6.5 rebounds (+108)
Victor Wembanyama is set to miss his first-ever NBA game since joining the San Antonio Spurs, so Collins could have to do a little more work on the glass. Collins is averaging 6.1 rebounds per game this season despite playing alongside one of the league’s better rebounders. The New Orleans Pelicans give up the seventh-most rebounds per game (44.9) to opposing teams, so Collins is well worth a look here.

Dennis Schroder over 6.5 assists (+108)
Schroder picked apart the Suns with a season-high 12 assists and is averaging 6.9 assists per game this season. He’s on a roll at home with the Toronto Raptors and has notched at least seven dimes in six consecutive contests. While the New York Knicks have a stingy defense, Schroder has eclipsed this mark against a pair of top-10 scoring defenses in his last five games.

The Boston Celtics welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to TD Garden on Friday evening. The Celtics have the Eastern Conference’s best record at 14-4, while the 76ers enter at 12-6 overall. The two teams split a pair of matchups in Philadelphia earlier this season. Kristaps Porzingis (calf) is out of action for the Celtics. Joel Embiid (illness) is listed as questionable for the 76ers, with Kelly Oubre Jr. (rib) ruled out.

For this game, SportsLine consensus lists the Celtics as 6.5-point favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 224.5 in the latest 76ers vs. Celtics odds. Before you make any Celtics vs. 76ers picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from SportsLine’s proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 6 of the 2023-24 NBA season on an 86-50 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Sixers vs. Celtics and locked in its NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Celtics vs. Sixers:

76ers vs. Celtics spread: Celtics -6.5
76ers vs. Celtics over/under: 224.5 points
76ers vs. Celtics money line: Celtics -262, 76ers +213
Philadelphia: The 76ers are 5-3 against the spread in road games
Boston: The Celtics are 6-2 against the spread in home games
76ers vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the 76ers can cover
Tyrese Maxey has performed as one of the best guards in the NBA this season, averaging 27.0 points and 6.7 assists per game. Maxey is making 39.6% of his attempts from 3-point range, and he is averaging 30.7 points per game over his last three outings. Philadelphia’s offense is clearly elite, scoring 1.2 points per possession to rank in the top three of the NBA. Philadelphia also uses the free throw line better than any team in the league.

The 76ers lead the NBA in free throw creation (27.8 per game) and free throw accuracy (85.6%), and Philadelphia is in the top eight of the league in second-chance points (15.9 per game) and fast break points (17.0 per game). Philadelphia is also in the top 10 of the league in points in the paint, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and turnover avoidance. On defense, Philadelphia is also above-average, and the 76ers are comfortably in the top eight of the NBA in both blocked shots (6.5 per game) and steals (8.3 per game). See which team to pick here.

Why the Celtics can cover
The Celtics are led by one of the best forwards in the NBA in Jayson Tatum. He is averaging 27.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season, and Tatum enters this game with career-best shooting efficiency (61.7% TS). He has eight games with at least 30 points this season, and Tatum is the centerpiece of a team that leads the NBA with a +9.7 net rating. Boston has also been dominant at TD Garden, maintaining an unbeaten record with dominant fashion, and the Celtics have two-way strengths.

On defense, the Celtics are allowing only 1.07 points per possession with excellent metrics across the board. Opponents are shooting only 43.9% from the field against Boston while generating fewer than 19 free throw attempts per game. The Celtics are also excellent on the defensive glass, securing 73.3% of available rebounds. On offense, Boston makes more than 15 3-pointers per game and shoots almost 58% inside the 3-point arc. The Celtics also avoid turnovers, committing only 13.6 per game, and that helps Boston to maintain its transition defense. See which team to pick here.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will not play against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night after attending to the birth of his first child on Friday afternoon. Doncic and his fiancee, Anamaria Goltes, announced the birth of their daughter, Gabriela, in a social media post during the day.

Doncic will be one of two Mavs players missing for personal reasons on Friday, as reserve guard Dante Exum was also ruled out due to personal reasons of his own. The team will also be missing Maxi Kleber due to a toe dislocation, while Tim Hardaway Jr. is questionable due to back spasms. In a positive development, Olivier-Maxence Prosper has been upgraded to available despite dealing with an ankle sprain.

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Doncic had previously announced his engagement to Goltes, his longtime girlfriend, in early July.

Friday’s absence will mark the first game Doncic has missed this season. He is currently averaging 31.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game for the Mavericks, who lead the Southwest Division at 11-6 and currently sit fourth in the Western Conference standings.

Doncic last played Tuesday in a 121-115 win over the Houston Rockets, scoring 41 points with nine rebounds and nine assists.

Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in her hip and will be sidelined for four-to-six months, the team announced Friday. The timeline puts the former No. 3 overall pick in doubt for the start of the 2024 WNBA season.

“Just a lil razzle dazzle to my testimony,” Austin wrote on Instagram. “God has taught me alot about myself throughout this process, but more importantly that I’ve always been built for it. Cant nobody stop me BUT ME. And if you know my story, you know what’s at the end of this journey. I promise you I won’t come back the same Kira.”

Austin’s sophomore campaign was off to a strong start last summer before she suffered a hip strain in the team’s loss to the New York Liberty on June 25. After deflecting a pass in the fourth quarter of that game, Austin was chasing down the loose ball when she suddenly stumbled and collapsed to the ground holding her leg. Initially expected to miss three weeks, she was out for nearly two months before a short-lived return.

In just her sixth game back in action, a loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Aug. 31, Austin took a hard fall under the basket after getting fouled by Kiah Stokes. She went back to the locker room and did not play again the rest of the season, including the Mystics’ first-round playoff series against the Liberty.

While the schedule for the 2024 WNBA season has not yet been released, opening night figures to be sometime in mid-May. In the best case scenario, Austin could be back on the court in April and perhaps ready to go for training camp. However, given the seriousness of the injury, there’s a good chance the team plays it safe and we won’t see her until after the season begins.

Regardless, this is tough news for both Austin and the Mystics. Major hip injuries are among the most difficult to recover from, and there’s no telling how this could affect Austin’s athleticism and two-way ability. Early last season she looked like one of the most promising young players in the league, and a building block for a Mystics team that was already facing some big-picture roster questions this offseason.

Austin’s injury is just one more variable that Eric and Mike Thibault will have to contend with as they look ahead to 2024.

It seems to be a matter of when, not if, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine finds a new home, as the team has sputtered to a 6-14 start. The 6-foot-5 bucket-getter has long been a subject of trade rumors, but they’ve heated up in recent weeks as Bulls head decision-maker Arturas Karnisovas reportedly views dealing LaVine as the organization’s top priority moving forward.

LaVine’s reported desired destinations are the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers, though it appears that finding a deal with those teams — or any other team — may be a difficult task. Suitors are not jumping at the opportunity to acquire LaVine, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowksi, who outlined two main reasons why Chicago has found trouble working out a deal.

“There is not a market for Zach LaVine right now in the NBA,” Wojnarowski said. “That’s not because Chicago has not tried to find it, and aren’t currently trying to find it. It’s a combination of a few reasons: LaVine’s contract — four more years at around a $45-46 million a year average. But his productivity, I think this is a player right now who, certainly he’s out right now with a foot injury. He’s been in and out of the lineup.

“I think the question for teams is, ‘How much does Zach LaVine impact winning?’ Especially at the salary and with a new salary cap, where you’re asking yourself, ‘Are we trading for him to be our best player?’ No. ‘Our second-best player?’ No. So, if he’s our third best player, do we want to pay that kind of money?”

“There is not a market for Zach LaVine right now.”@wojespn with the latest on LaVine and the Bulls 👀 pic.twitter.com/r4stqcKkor

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 1, 2023
LaVine, who will miss at least a week with a foot injury, is averaging 21 points per game this season, his lowest since 2017-18 with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He’s also shooting a career-worst 34% from 3-point range, while his 44% from the field is also the lowest mark since his rookie season. Those are certainly not the numbers expected for a player who signed a five-year, $215 million contract prior to the 2022-23 season.

Wojnarowski outlined the issue perfectly, as a similar problem arose when Bradley Beal sat on the trade market seemingly for years. LaVine is paid like the best player on a championship team, but he clearly isn’t viewed that way around the league. And if he’s going to be a secondary — or tertiary — player on a team that already has other high-paid stars, his salary is going to create all sorts of problems with respect to the new CBA.

The bottom line is, players of LaVine’s caliber almost always end up finding a suitor, but — as was the case with Beal — sometimes the deal takes longer to develop and the return isn’t what the selling team necessarily expected.