It is no secret by now that the Bulls and Zach LaVine are not on the same page. As a result, the Zach LaVine trade sweepstakes have been been heating up in the past couple of weeks. There have been a few teams who have been mentioned in terms of the All-Star guard’s services. The main teams being brought up have been the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Miami Heat. However, it now seems as if the Heat are not interested in trading for LaVine at all. They are content with the current makeup of their squad.

Miami Heat Reportedly Not Interested in Chicago Bulls Shooting Guard, Zach LaVine 

Heat Don’t Want to Part With Tyler Herro 

Any potential package centered around Zach LaVine from the Heat will likely require Tyler Herro. Much like the Damian Lillard situation. The Heat feel as if LaVine already has the same skillset as Herro, but on a more expensive contract. Plus, he is an older player. That still does not change the fact that Zach LaVine is still miles better than Herro, but Miami seems set on Herro’s services for the future.

The two-time All-Star this season is still averaging 22.3 points on an effective field goal percentage of 53.1 percent. Clearly, the Bulls shooting guard still has something left in the tank. Even if the team could acquire LaVine without giving up Tyler Herro, the Heat would have an extremely expensive squad. They would exceed the $172.6 million luxury tax line by about $3 million. With all of this in mind, it somewhat makes sense why the Heat have no interest in negotiating for the star high-flyer.

Other Potential Destinations for Zach LaVine 

While the Miami Heat are most likely out of the Zach LaVine sweepstakes, there are still a few squad around the NBA who would be extremely interested. Of course, the first team who comes to mind for many peers is the Los Angeles Lakers. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis getting older, many think a third star to form a star trio would elevate the team into the elite echelon of the Western Conference. The Bulls would still ask for a hefty package and the Lakers cannot afford to lose too much depth.

Another team many NBA peers have been bringing up is the Philadelphia 76ers. With them out of the shadow of James Harden, they have been playing more loosely and more free. The reigning MVP in Joel Embiid continues to perform at a high level and Tyrese Maxey looks like a star in the making. However, many speculate that Zach LaVine could be the missing piece to push them past the second round of the playoffs. Especially with the door in the Eastern Conference looking wide open for them considering the Milwaukee Bucks have been struggling. If Zach LaVine were brought into the fold, a course to a 76ers-Celtics Eastern Conference Finals seems extremely likely. All in all, whichever team lands LaVine, will be acquiring a high-level scorer who should increase their chances at a title this year.

Angel Reese remains away from the LSU women’s basketball team after missing her third consecutive game against Niagara on Friday. In fact, Reese did not travel with the team on their recent trip to the Cayman Islands Classic.

Head coach Kim Mulkey has declined to provide any details regarding the absence of her star player but rumors have surfaced that Reese’s suspension could be due to her performance in the classroom.

However, Mulkey has also done nothing to dispel the rumors either. Instead, she’s kept all information in-house.

“I’m going to protect my players,” Mulkey said on Monday. “Always. They are more important. It’s like a family. Let me ask you this, if you do some disciplining of your own children, do you think we’re entitled to know that? That’s a family in that locker room…Those kids are like my children, and I’m not gonna tell you what you don’t need to know. And that’s just the way I address things.”

Reese, the Most Outstanding Player in last year’s Final Four, last played on Nov. 14 in LSU’s blowout 109-79 win over Kent State. She finished that game with 11 points and four rebounds but was benched in the second half and has yet to return since.

Along with Reese, teammate Kateri Poole has also not been with the team.

Still, that didn’t stop LSU from cruising to another 99-65 win over Niagara on Friday.

How Has Reese Responded To The Allegations?

Reese has subtly responded to the allegations on her social media accounts. On Nov. 19, she wrote on X and pleaded with fans not to “believe everything you read”. In a recent TikTok video, Reese used audio from Deion Sanders to address her current mindset. In the clip, Sanders is heard saying, “Look at me. What about me would make you think that I care about your opinion of me? Your opinion of me is not the opinion that I have of myself. You ain’t make me, so you can’t break me.”.

@angelreese10♬ original sound – Positive_mindset23

Will Reese Return To The Court This Season?

Reese was reportedly excited for a chance to repeat at LSU this season. Mulkey brought in several high-profile transfers and recruits that positioned the Lady Tigers as one of the most talented teams in the country. Haley Van Lith and Aneesah Morrow both joined LSU via the transfer portal to go along with top recruit Mikayla Williams.

“I wanted a super-team,” Reese told The Athletic prior to the season. “They want greatness and I want greatness. They want a national championship and so do I. So why not do it all together?”

But with Reese reportedly suspended, many LSU fans are wondering when they might see the Bayou Barbie back on the basketball court.

While there has been no indication on the length of her suspension or the nature of her absence from the team, it seems possible that Reese may not be out for much longer. LSU only has one ranked team (No. 9 Virginia Tech) on the schedule for the rest of the month and likely wouldn’t need Reese to win those games.

However, the Lady Tigers are set to tip off the SEC schedule after the New Year and their schedule will get much tougher from there.

With games versus three top-25 teams, including a battle versus No. 1-ranked South Carolina, on tap for January 2024, it wouldn’t be a surprise for Reese to return shortly after the holidays.

Three Milwaukee Bucks players each recorded 30 or more points in the same NBA game for the first time in franchise history in Friday night’s 131-128 win over the Washington Wizards. This game was also an NBA In-Season Tournament matchup.

Milwaukee center Brook Lopez matched a career high with 39 points and knocked down a 3-pointer with 2:40 left to help secure the victory for the Bucks.

Lopez’s two highest-scoring performances of the season have come in his last two games. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard each added 31 points as well.

Per multiple NBA betting sites, the Milwaukee Bucks hold second-shortest odds below the Boston Celtics to win the 2024 championship. Sportsbooks are still showing great odds for the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Three Bucks players scored over 30 points in the same game for the first time in franchise history 👏

They take down the Wizards in a close finish. pic.twitter.com/XhhocMR1pB

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 25, 2023

Lopez also ended his outing with six rebounds, one assist, two steals, and three blocks in 33 minutes of action. The 7-foot-1 big man shot 14-of-17 (82.4%) from the floor, 4-of-7 (57.1%) beyond the arc and made all seven free throws.

The only other time Lopez has scored 39 points came while playing for the New Jersey Nets against the Detroit Pistons on April 6, 2011. At 23 years old, he shot 14-of-20 (70%) in a 116-109 loss to Detroit.

Brook Lopez, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Damian Lillard are first Bucks players with 30-plus points in same game

Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo reached 31 points on 11-of-19 (57.9%) shooting from the field and 9-of-12 (75%) at the foul line. The seven-time All-Star logged nine boards, three assists, three steals, and one block.

Lillard scored 31 points on 11-of-18 (61.1%) shooting from the floor, 2-of-5 (40%) from 3-point range, and 7-of-8 (87.5%) at the line. Plus, Dame posted six rebounds and 10 assists.

“I’m lucky to play with great players on this team, from Giannis and Dame all the way down — talented guys who can put the ball in the bucket but are also great playmakers,” said Lopez.

𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡’ 🔥

Highlights from the 131-128 win over the Wizards: ⤵ #FearTheDeer | #Bucks | #NBA pic.twitter.com/H4bqIzVErq

— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) November 25, 2023

“Dame had some great passes to me tonight, Giannis did as well, all the way down the line again. That’s just the way it went tonight.”

The Bucks outscored Washington 72-58 in the paint. Milwaukee finished 48-of-92 (52.2%) shooting from the floor and 9-of-31 (29%) from downtown. However, the Bucks struggled to defend the outside, allowing the Wizards to shoot 15-of-37 (40.5%) from deep.

With this win, the Bucks improved to 3-0 in the East Group B standings. Milwaukee closes group play Tuesday at the Miami Heat, who fell to 2-1 in group play Friday with a 100-98 loss to the New York Knicks.