Zach LaVine Traded To The Kings And Reunited With DeMar

Good morning Chicago fans! I assumed we would all be stuck in a rut with six more weeks of winter and a quiet NBA Trade Deadline nearing. Instead, the Bulls actually did something!!! Zach LaVine is headed to Sacramento to join his former teammate.

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CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

W - Blackhawks 4, Lightning 1

The kids came to play!!!

• Landon Slaggert was sharp in his first game back in the NHL and sniped an impressive goal

• Andrei Vasilevskiy is undefeated (13-0-0) in his career against the Hawks but missed the game due to illness

• Arvid Soderblom had a big game and saved 34 of 35 shots

L - Hurricanes 3, Blackhawks 2

High-powered Canes were too much to handle

• Old friend Taylor Hall missed his revenge game due to illness

• An ugly 2nd period doomed the Hawks despite a strong effort in the 3rd period highlighted by a Connor Bedard goal

• Mikko Rantanen thanked the Hawks for retaining on his contract with a goal

L - Panthers 5, Blackhawks 1

A 59 minute, 53 second shutout ❌

• Slaggert scored the fastest goal in franchise history only 7 seconds into the game!!!

• Panthers were a clear mismatch: drew 6 penalties, outshot the Hawks 44-25, and looked two strides ahead of the play at all times

Star of the Week ⭐ Landon Slaggert

2 goals on 9 shots, +2 rating

Play of the Week 🎥 Connor Bedard insane angle goal

Future NHL salary cap estimates were released, and the numbers are soaring 📈

2025-2026: $95.5M, 2026-2027: $104M, 2027-2028: $113.5M

• This gives the Hawks WAY more flexibility as they move towards the ‘filling out the roster’ side of the rebuild.

• They only have 5 current NHLers signed through the 26-27 season for a total of $26M. Bedard, Nazar, and other young players will need extensions in the next couple years, so the commitments will increase. However, there is CLEARLY room for a superstar free agent and many more acquisitions.

• For any NHL team interested in an experienced defenseman…these estimates now allow for a free Seth Jones addition every single year! Anyone can have him, and it won’t even hurt!

Activated Connor Murphy off IR

Kevin Korchinski was added to the AHL All Star Game roster

CHICAGO BULLS

W - Bulls 129, Nuggets 121

4-guard starting lineup vs. Nikola Jokic showdown!

• Patrick Williams was taken out of the starting lineup and helped the Bulls bench explode, outscoring the Nuggets bench 41-10

• Bulls shot a ridiculous 24/53 (45.3%) from 3PT but were bullied in the paint (84-38)

• 7 Bulls scored in double figures and Jokic had a triple-double (33p/12r/14a)

L - Celtics 122, Bulls 100

Ugly defeat without soon-to-be-3-time-dad Zach LaVine (before the trade)

• Kristaps Porzingis (34p/11r) tied his career-high with 8 3PT

• Bulls struggled to score without LaVine - Williams and Coby White (returning from injury) both led the team with 16 points 😬

W - Bulls 122, Raptors 106

Ended the Raptors’ 5 game win streak!

• Bench Mob 2025 carried the Bulls to a win as all 4 bench players scored in double figures

• Coby had a much better game and led all scorers (25p/6a/4r, 5/8 3PT)

L - Pistons 127, Bulls 119

Couldn’t outshoot their own turnovers

• Bulls shot the ball well (46.1 FG%, 36.5 3PT%, 90.0 FT%) as every starter scored 13+ points with 2+ 3PT

• 20 turnovers and an 80-44 points in the paint deficit killed the Bulls

• Nikola Vucevic recorded a triple-double (20p/10a/11r)

Star of the Week ⭐ Nikola Vucevic

16.8p/5.3a/11r per game, 2 double-doubles, 1 triple-double

Play of the Week 🎥 Matas Buzelis stiff arm and dunk

🚨 Traded Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings as part of a three-team deal 🚨

Bulls receive: SG Kevin Huerter, C Zach Collins, PG Tre Jones, 2025 1st round pick (their own)

Kings receive: Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, 3 1st round picks, 3 2nd round picks (1 from the Bulls)

Spurs receive: De'Aaron Fox, Jordan McLaughlin

The Bulls FINALLY found a trade partner for Zach LaVine.

After his mental reset this past offseason and a strong commitment to the Bulls, LaVine played efficient basketball and had a bounceback run. It was an impressive feat amidst the wave of trade rumors he endured over the last couple seasons.

Even with the possibility of a productive season, I never believed LaVine could “rehab” his trade value. All reports stated the Bulls would have to attach draft capital to LaVine in order to ship him out. This trade was, in a sense, a win.

The Bulls essentially received:

• 1st round pick - They owed the Spurs their 2025 1st round pick (Top 10 protected) from the original DeMar trade. If they finished Top 10, it would have moved to 2026, then 2027. After this trade, they can keep their own 1st round pick EVERY season starting now.

• $10M in cap space in 2025 - Huerter and Collins are signed for $36M combined in 2025, Jones is on an expiring contract

• $49M in cap space in 2026 - None of the players are signed through 2026

And, in classic Bulls fashion, they had to give away a 2nd round pick 🙄

The return isn’t great for a talented scorer. But they got SOME value.

What matters most is exactly the same as it was in July when DeMar became a King. What’s next? With a guaranteed draft pick and some cap flexibility, will they tear down the roster even more? Are Vucevic and Lonzo Ball as good as gone? Can they somehow get out of Patrick Williams’ contract?

Collins can play solid minutes at center and may have to after a Vooch trade. Jones is a fun, young player, but may not stick around. Huerter is a good shooter having a down year. I doubt any of these three will be around for long. This was a salary dump, and the Bulls better be ready to use their 2026 flexibility on a star.

The NBA is a star’s league, and they haven’t had one since Derrick Rose.

This trade is a good sign of change. It’s too bad the front office sat on their hands for 2 years and proved they don’t know what they’re doing.

No Bulls were named to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team. LaVine and Vooch had a REAL case to be on the team after strong 1st halves.

CHICAGO BEARS

OFFSEASON

Assistant Coaches:

Hired Press Taylor as Passing Game Coordinator (previously the Jaguars Offensive Coordinator)

Hired Eric Bieniemy as Running Backs Coach (previously the UCLA Offensive Coordinator, most known for his time as the Chiefs OC)

Retained Jim Dray as Tight Ends Coach

Matt Eberflus was hired by the Dallas Cowboys as their Defensive Coordinator. I hope Micah Parsons hears about HITS and demands a trade to the Bears. They’ll need track shoes at AT&T Stadium!

Former Interim Head Coach Thomas Brown was hired by the New England Patriots as Tight Ends Coach and Passing Game Coordinator

CHICAGO CUBS

OFFSEASON

DFA’d RHP Matt Festa and INF Luis Vazquez, traded Vazquez to the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations

Reportedly in discussions with free agent 3B Alex Bregman. I don’t understand how they’re in the mix based on their stated goals (bullpen and bench) and their assumed baseball budget. I’m guessing they would have to move money out if they somehow got him to Chicago. We’ll see what happens!

Signed old friend LHP Brandon Hughes, former White Sox and hometown player INF Nicky Lopez, RHP Brad Keller, RHP Trevor Richards, and C Reese McGuire to minor league contracts

If anyone wants to bring a few friends (and me) to a Cubs game this summer, you can lay down a pretty penny to be in The Yard:

The Nick Madrigal era is officially over!!! Madrigal signed a 1-year contract with the New York Mets. Remember when he was the prize of the Craig Kimbrel trade?? Or when he was the Cubs answer at 3B????

SAY WHAT?

A CITYWIDE SALUTE

Richard Hightower

Coaches are rarely beloved in this town.

One of my favorite coaches to listen to and one of the most impactful coaches on the 2024 Bears was mobbed with support when he was officially retained for the upcoming season. Read more:

MILD TAKE

The Blackhawks rebuild is in great shape.

I agree with Kyle Davidson’s sentiment this week.

Even though this season hasn’t lived up to expectations, the head coach was not a fit for the roster, and the team is headed for another Top 5 draft pick, the future is bright.

Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar are the only Davidson draft picks in the NHL. Other young players have earned their promotion, but a handful of them were Stan Bowman selections. This is the 3rd full season of the rebuild, so it’s way too early to draw any negative conclusions.

I still believe in Bedard as the franchise player. He has produced at nearly 1 point per game since the coaching change despite a revolving door of linemates. Oh, and he’s only 19 years old!! Pairing him with Nazar has paid off well so far.

Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Donato, and some of the other veterans Davidson brought in have been key contributors. Bertuzzi and Teuvo will help usher in more of the young talent because of their 4 and 3 year contracts, respectively. But even if all of the veteran acquisitions were duds, it would only warrant a caution flag on Davidson, not a red alert.

It is SO early. More prospects need to see the ice in the NHL. The rest of the roster will have to be filled out through free agency and trade down the road.

Why should I be optimistic about prospects? Well, there is strength in numbers. And there has been a ton of development!

Sam Rinzel (9g/16a in 30 games) and Oliver Moore (7g/16a in 28 games) are having great seasons at the University of Minnesota. Nick Lardis (48g/33a in 47 games, 4-goal game last night) is tearing up the OHL. Sacha Boisvert (9g/10a in 25 games) is having a promising year at the University of North Dakota.

AJ Spellacy, Ryan Greene, Roman Kantserov, Marek Vanacker and more look like impactful NHLers in the future. And it helps that Rockford is ACTUALLY being used for development this season for guys like Artyom Levshunov, Kevin Korchinski, and more.

The organization is in a good spot. A run at elite free agents could elevate their ceiling in a couple years. The rebuild is working.

HITTING THE LINKS

Andy Martinez - Cubs prospect Moisés Ballesteros recalls humble beginnings (Marquee Sports Network)

Mark Lazerus - For late-round picks trying to crack the NHL, all you need is a chip and a chance (The Athletic)

Darnell Mayberry - The Bulls and the NBA trade deadline: 6 names to watch (The Athletic)

Scott Powers - Kyle Davidson still optimistic about rebuild (The Athletic)

Gabby Hajduk - Pro Bowl Postcards: Jaylon Johnson (chicagobears.com)

Chicago Bulls - Behind the Scenes of Lonzo Ball’s comeback journey (YouTube)

TWO MINUTE WARNING

Thanks for reading! Have a great week. Let’s hope the Bulls blow up the rest of the roster!