Knicks not interested in Zach LaVine or DeMar DeRozan?

KC Johnson: I’m hearing what I’ve already reported: Rival teams, at least for now, are working under the assumption that management is focused on the LaVine situation. There’s little to no chance Vucevic gets traded since he just signed a three-year deal. DeRozan is the one to watch. If you know you’re going to lose him for nothing in unrestricted free agency next summer, it’s indeed best to get what you can for him before the Feb. 8 deadline. But Karnisovas has said publicly he’d like to re-sign DeRozan. As for championship level, management never stated that as this season’s goal. They said they wanted to return to the playoffs, which is a longshot at this point as well. -via NBC Sports Chicago / December 7, 2023

K.C. Johnson: Billy Donovan said DeMar DeRozan did more today than yesterday, will likely be listed as questionable vs. Pelicans. Schedule lightens up after Saturday as Bulls don’t play again until Wednesday. His ankle situation isn’t as serious as LaVine’s foot. -via Twitter @KCJHoop / December 1, 2023

But since the “Big Three” of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic came together going into the 2021-22 season, LaVine has missed 22 regular-season games. DeRozan has missed 16 in that same time. In the games without DeRozan, the Bulls are 7-9 losing by an average margin of 13.1 points in those nine games. Without LaVine they are 12-10 losing by a margin of 10 points. They aren’t a playoff team without LaVine, but they haven’t exactly been a playoff team with him, either. One visit to the postseason – a one-round exit in which they won just one game – is all he’s given them in seven seasons. -via Chicago Sun-Times / December 1, 2023

The bigger problem for the Bulls is the marketplace. Not only does there appear to be minimal interest from rival teams, but they all know the Bulls are looking to part ways with LaVine. Overcoming that obstacle in negotiations could be Chicago’s biggest challenge. -via The Athletic / December 7, 2023

KC Johnson: This isn’t an easy contract to move, particularly if it’s a team looking to add LaVine as a second or third option. While the Lakers never have blinked at paying the luxury tax, and while I expect them to show interest, LaVine would be the third option behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He’d be lethal in this scenario. But will the Lakers be willing to add a player making more than $40 million over the next three seasons as a third option? -via NBC Sports Chicago / December 7, 2023

With their max player — Zach LaVine — out for a third consecutive game, they proved they could get it done without him, notching their third straight win, a 111-100 victory against the Hornets on Wednesday. “It wasn’t coming down to the wire like it did against Milwaukee and even New Orleans a little bit,” coach Billy Donovan said. But they still allowed the Hornets to cut their 22-point lead in the fourth quarter to eight even though Charlotte was without leading scorer LaMelo Ball (ankle) and leading rebounder Mark Williams (back). -via Chicago Sun-Times / December 7, 2023