While the Chicago Bulls’ trade for Zach LaVine was a total bust, leaving them with nothing to show for it but expiring contracts and draft picks, there’s been a silver lining: Zach Collins. The 7-footer they acquired in the deal is starting to make his presence felt on the court. His recent play could be a big advantage for the Bulls heading into the offseason.
Collins Finds His Groove in Chicago
After barely playing for the San Antonio Spurs this season, Collins has found new life in Chicago. The Bulls are giving him big minutes—26 per game—and he’s delivering.
What Collins Brings to the Table
- Overall: Since joining the Bulls, Collins is averaging 13.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists while shooting 55%.
- Recent: Over his last 5 games, Collins has upped his output to 18.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists while shooting 59%. This bump in production is partly due to Nikola Vučević being out.
Collins’ emergence isn’t just good for his career—it’s also a asset for the Bulls as they navigate their rebuild.
Can Collins Be Traded?
With Collins showing life, the Bulls have a decision to make: Keep him as part of their long-term plans or trade him while his value is high?
Why Now Is the Time to Trade Collins?
Several reasons why Collins is trade bait:
- Age and Upside: At just 27 years old, Collins fits the timeline of teams looking to contend now or build for the future.
- Cheap Contract: He makes $18 million next season. Most playoff teams can handle that.
- Market Demand: Bigs who can stretch, defend, and score are always in demand.
But timing is key. Collins is in the final year of his deal in 2025 so any team that acquires him will want to move fast to get the most out of him. Waiting until next season’s trade deadline might hurt his value as teams will want him for training camp and a full season.
Bulls’ Dilemma: Keep or Trade?
If the Bulls keep him, it could be as a replacement for Nikola Vučević whose contract is up after next season. But keeping him comes with risks. If they don’t extend him he could walk in unrestricted free agency in 2026 and the Bulls would get nothing.
For a team that needs to rebuild, moving Collins now makes sense-especially if they can get draft capital or young talent in return. Given their history of poor timing in trades (e.g. Alex Caruso, Coby White) the Bulls need to act fast before it’s too late.