If the Milwaukee Bucks make a big move before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, Chicago Bulls guard Zach Lavine is their guy according to the latest odds. This development is directly connected to reports yesterday that clarified the Suns‘ Bradley Beal would not waive his no-trade clause to join the Bulls, or any other non-contender in a cold-weather city.
Forbes‘ Evan Sidery reported:
With Bradley Beal declining to waive his no trade clause to join the Bulls, the Suns’ pursuit of Jimmy Butler hits a potentially impossible roadblock.
The Heat will likely pivot elsewhere for a Butler trade package soon, if the Suns can’t find a team that Beal will sign off on. pic.twitter.com/m8SR1fhoH6
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) January 28, 2025
Whether for Butler or Lavine, this massively impedes Phoenix’ negotiations with Chicago.
Should Milwaukee Bucks Be the Real Favorites To Engineer Zach Lavine Deal with Chicago Bulls?
While the above update is framed in the context of the Suns’ Butler hunt and their need to find a landing spot for Beal if Miami doesn’t want him, it is just as relevant to the notion that they would pivot to Lavine if a Butler deal is not forthcoming. Why the Bulls would want Beal is a question in its own right, but if he won’t accept a trade there in the first place, obtaining Lavine just became a moot point for Phoenix unless some other team would take Beal in a Lavine-centric trade.
Even then, Beal would have to approve the alternative destination.
Due to Beal’s undesirable contract and further salary-matching complications in a three-plus team transaction, that seems just about impossible.
Frankly, it seems strange that Phoenix remains the favorite to acquire Chicago’s best player. DraftKings gives them +350 odds. Behind the Bulls’ -115 (in the case that they simply retain Lavine), that is the shortest price listed. Milwaukee sits third at +700.
Perhaps the market just isn’t taking Beal at his word, or trusts in the possibility of a multi-team deal that would require moving several hundred million dollars in salary. Throwing out Phoenix, the Bucks are sitting rather pretty to make a significant splash.
Believe What You Read: Bradley Beal Isn’t a Windy City Guy
To put in things in perspective, even if Milwaukee is the frontrunner for Lavine, they are one of multiple suitors including the Heat (+900), the Warriors (+1200), and the Kings (+1400). So in any case, it is not likely they will acquire him. Nonetheless, the Phoenix update clearly boosts their chances.
Aside from precious draft capital, the move would likely involve Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis, in addition to salary dumping Pat Connaughton beforehand to sneak below the second apron and be able to aggregate outgoing salaries.
With Middleton coming off a season-high 22 points against Utah, trading him may not be as popular an idea as it was 48 hours ago. As everyone knows, however, fans are a fickle breed; after his goose egg versus the Clippers many called for his head.
On the flip side, a better-playing Middleton is a more appealing–or at least less unappealing–return for trade partners.
Whether the Bucks or Bulls would be interested in that particular exchange, it seems ridiculous to doubt Beal’s stance on Chicago. It is not simply a matter of personal preference, but one of family concerns as well.
Arizona Sports quotes The Athletic as follows:
“He will not waive it just to leave the Suns. … Accepting a trade elsewhere would mean either relocating his kids once again after going from Washington to Phoenix in 2023, or leaving them to play somewhere else for the time being. … If a team has a losing record and a chilly winter, it won’t be on Beal’s list.”
All else aside, any scenario that removes Phoenix from the running spikes Milwaukee’s prospects of putting Lavine in green and white.
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