Following a loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, the Chicago Bulls traded Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings in return for three players and a first-round pick.
“Zach has been a cornerstone for this organization and the city. He truly embraced what it means to be a Bull. His work ethic and passion for the game have been inspiring. During his time here, he grew as a player and started a family, and we watched him develop into the person he is today,” said Arturas Karnisovas, EVP – Basketball Operations for the Chicago Bulls. “We also sincerely thank Chris and Torrey for their professionalism and contributions. Our organization is extremely appreciative of everything each of these guys have given to the team.”
In the deal, Chicago received its original 2025 first-round pick back from San Antonio while sending the Kings a 2028 second-round pick that originally belonged to Sacramento. The three-team deal was completed through Sacramento also receiving guard Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks (2025 Charlotte, 2027 San Antonio, 2031 Minnesota), and three total second-round picks (2025 Chicago via San Antonio, 2028 Denver, and 2028 Sacramento via Chicago), while the Spurs acquired guards De’Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin.
The Bulls received Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, and their own 2025 1st-round pick (via Spurs).
Huerter, 6-7,190, has appeared in 456 games (365 starts) during his NBA career, averaging 11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 0.9 steals in 28.0 minutes between tenures with the Atlanta Hawks (2018-22) and Sacramento (2022-25). During the 2024-25 campaign, Huerter averaged 7.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 20.9 minutes across 43 games (15 starts) for the Kings – scoring in double figures on 13 occasions and connecting on three-plus threes in eight games.
The former Maryland product was drafted by the Hawks No. 19 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, earning 2018-19 All-Rookie Second Team honors.
Collins, 6-11, 240, holds career averages of 7.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.7 blocks in 18.8 minutes through 350 games (75 starts) with the Portland Trail Blazers (2017-20) and San Antonio (2021-25). In 36 games (four starts) with the Spurs this season, Collins averaged 4.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 11.8 minutes while logging five games with 10-plus points and seven games with five-plus rebounds.
Collins was selected out of Gonzaga by Portland with the No. 10 overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft. In his lone collegiate season with the Bulldogs, Collins earned 2016-17 All-West Coast Conference (WCC) Second Team honors, 2016-17 WCC All-Freshman, and a 2017 NCAA All-Tournament selection.
Jones, 6-1, 190, has averaged 8.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 0.8 steals in 21.5 minutes through 279 games (125 starts) with San Antonio. In 2024-25, Jones appeared in 28 games (no starts) with the Spurs, averaging 4.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 16.1 minutes. The fifth-year guard averaged at least 10.0 points and 6.0 assists in consecutive seasons from 2022-24.
The former Duke Blue Devil was selected by San Antonio’s No. 41 overall in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft. In two seasons with Duke, Jones was named 2019-20 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year alongside selections to the 2019-20 All-ACC First Team and earned ACC All-Defense honors twice (2019, 2020).
LaVine’s Journey:
In eight seasons with the Bulls, LaVine posted averages of 24.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 0.9 steals in 34.5 minutes through 416 NBA games (413 starts) en route to two NBA All-Star selections (2021, 2022). LaVine departs from Chicago as the franchise’s all-time three-point leader (1,130), third in scoring average (Michael Jordan – 31.5 ppg, DeMar DeRozan – 25.5 ppg), sixth in total points (10,056), seventh in field goals made (3,545) and 12th in total assists (1,808). LaVine was selected in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft with the 13th overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves. A two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion, he was named an NBA All-Star in 2021 and 2022. He also won a gold medal on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team in Tokyo.
Zach and DeMar Reunited:
According to 24/7 Sports, Sacramento’s haul also included LaVine, reuniting the two-time Slam Dunk Contest winner with his former teammate DeMar DeRozan as the Kings look to hold onto the Western Conference’s final play-in berth. The two players spent three seasons together with the Chicago Bulls between 2021-2024, and DeRozan quickly took to social media to celebrate LaVine’s arrival in the Californian capital. On his Instagram story Sunday evening, DeRozan posted a photo of himself and LaVine talking in the locker room at the 2022 NBA All-Star game.
Most fans believed Zach and DeMar lacked chemistry during their tenure in Chicago, but with a change of scenery, the two look to rewrite history.
Bulls move on from Craig and Duarte:
In a related move, the Bulls waived forward Torrey Craig and guard Chris Duarte.
