Zach LaVine trade: Top 3 potential landing spots for the Chicago Bulls All-Star as rumblings of discontent grow

Zach LaVine's trade prospects have made the rounds ever since it was reported that there was growing dissonance between LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. The two led the Bulls to their best record since 2014-15 last season, with Chicago finishing 46-36. But Chicago is off to a 14-19 start. They were 23-10 at this point a year ago.

Shams Charania and Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic detailed the rumblings:

"Even more, multiple league sources and sources close to the organization say LaVine and the Bulls are not seeing eye to eye. Over the past few weeks, there’s been a palpable feeling across various parts of the franchise of a disconnect over LaVine’s situation in Chicago."

With the trade deadline little more than a month away, teams have closely monitored the situation in Chicago, possibly looking to jump on a call with Bulls general manager Marc Eversley should an opening present itself.

The Bulls currently stand 11th in the Eastern Conference. Since Charania's report, the Bulls had gone on a three-game winning streak, their longest winning streak of the season until losing 133-118 to the Houston Rockets on Monday.

For the season, LaVine averages 22.1/4.4/4.2 on 45.2-36.9-81.4 shooting splits.

Should Zach LaVine become available, he will have a diverse and promising market. However, the size of his extension makes it highly unlikely that a trade will take place before Feb. 9.

While this is complete speculation, some franchises are more likely to receive LaVine's contract than others. We look at the three best prospects for the ninth-year guard.

Zach LaVine to the LA Lakers

LA Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls

The Lakers seem more than likely to be a spot where LaVine heads once he leaves Chicago.

Besides LaVine being a former UCLA Bruin, LaVine is represented by Klutch Sports, which also represents LeBron James and a host of other Lakers. The Lakers would prefer LaVine to come to LA, since a 3-point shooting, 6-foot-6 wing is exactly what LA needs.

Also, as reported by Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, an Eastern Conference executive believes LaVine's wish to move to LA is a foregone conclusion:

“LaVine wants to go to the Lakers. That has been pretty clear for a while now. The agents (from Klutch Sports) want him to be in Los Angeles. He is a UCLA guy, and they did some rattling about his contract last offseason, to kind of lay the groundwork if things blew up." (via) Heavy.com

LaVine to the Dallas Mavericks

Dallas Mavericks vs. Chicago Bulls

It is no secret that Luka Doncic needs help. On Tuesday night, Doncic had to do something that had never been done before in NBA history just to seal a 126-121 overtime win against the New York Knicks.

On Zach Lowe's podcast, "The Lowe Post," ESPN's Tim McMahon said that the Mavericks could be a promising contender in the Zach LaVine sweepstakes:

"There’s obviously been a lot of talk about the Bulls, and do they blow it up, and how are things with LaVine there? I just know there are fans of him that hold prominent positions within the Mavericks.

"I am not sitting here and telling you it’s some great consensus, but I think there are enough fans of him that I wouldnt totally rule it out." (h/t) Fansided

LaVine and Doncic could easily propel the Mavericks to the position of a contender in the West. However, the Mavs would likely lose a lot of depth in their trade for LaVine.

Wild card: Zach LaVine to the Phoenix Suns

Phoenix Suns vs. Chicago Bulls

The Phoenix Suns happen to have not one, but two disgruntled players with sizeable contracts, and, most of all, are a win-now team. The contract sizes of Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder together are enough for Zach LaVine to be traded.

Devin Booker and LaVine could easily form a formidable one-two punch in the West, but both of them together would make for a poor defensive backcourt.

A trade for LaVine cannot take place until Jan. 15, as he re-signed using Bird rights with a 20% raise in salary and the Bulls are over the cap.