Chicago, please don’t team up with Zach LaVine and LeBron James

Sorry if I feel like throwing up: I just heard trade rumors linking the Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine to the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James.

In a town where the McCaskeys and Jerry Reinsdorf might live forever or be replaced by artificially intelligent replicas, it’s hard to stay optimistic without hearing these rumors.

That’s why it makes perfect sense that Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley (collectively known as AKME) have the ability to trigger an NBA trade that would amount to the end of the world for Chicago.

Chicago Bulls, I’m begging you: Don’t do this.

The thought of the Chicago Bulls trading Zach LaVine to the Los Angeles Lakers to join forces with LeBron James makes me sick to my stomach.

I know we’re talking about a deal, but let’s put aside what that deal entails for now. Put aside the assets acquired, put aside everything the Lakers have to offer. Can you live with this?

I know I can’t.

LeBron James is notorious for what he did to the Chicago Bulls during his career, both on and off the court.

From infamously treating the Bulls as runners-up to officially killing the Derrick Rose era, LeBron James has ironically become Michael Jordan’s antithesis while trying to surpass the man himself.

Michael Jordan represents Chicago’s greatness, and LeBron James represents its destruction. Michael Jordan represents fierce competition, while LeBron James represents softened competition. Michael Jordan represented beating the best, and LeBron James represented joining them.

No matter how you look at it, LeBron James and his career have done a disservice to the city of Chicago and insulted the legacy of Michael Jordan.

So why should we stand by as willing trade partners while LeBron James drafts top talent to build another championship-caliber team — not the fifth time, not the sixth time, not the seventh time…

you understood.

Don’t let it get twisted; I know I’m writing about LeBron James as if he were the general manager. That’s because he is. Rob Pelinka currently serves only as general manager. He moves like his cash cow.

Maybe that’s good business sense in the modern NBA landscape, but that doesn’t mean the Chicago Bulls need to be a part of it. They don’t need Zach LaVine to be a part of it.

While he may be a polarizing figure with the Bulls, it’s no secret how I feel about Zach LaVine.

It’s easy to forget what he endured and persevered during his tenure with the Bulls. Of course, we’ve paid this guy, but it’s hard to argue that he doesn’t deserve it. After all, during Bulls head coach Jim Boylen’s infamous period, only Coby White was on the team with him.

Do I get paid like Alpha? Yes, but that’s how he plays in today’s NBA. Is he an alpha? No, but that’s a different question entirely. It’s unfair to blame Zach LaVine for AKME’s failure.

Here are some irrefutable facts. If Zach LaVine can finish this season in this lineup with comparable numbers to last season, he will become the greatest three-point shooter in Chicago Bulls history. He would also surpass Luol Deng to become the fourth-best scorer in Bulls history.

We’re talking about a player who will be controversial in the future, whether fans like it or not, as the greatest scorer in Chicago Bulls history outside of Michael Jordan.

So why on God’s green earth would we allow this player to join forces with the anti-Jordans, potentially further tarnishing the competition’s reputation? Maybe they didn’t win the ring, but why take the chance?

If Zach LaVine’s tenure with the Chicago Bulls has to end this way, trade him elsewhere.

I fully support this trade as a way of honoring LaVine’s career in Chicago, but that doesn’t mean it has to be the Los Angeles Lakers.

That doesn’t mean we have to watch Zach LaVine team up with LeBron James.

• Posted on November 15, 2023 at 3:00 pm CST
• Last updated: November 15, 2023 at 6:29 AM CST