Chicago Bulls star guard Zach LaVine has long been the subject of trade rumors, but there's reportedly a belief around the NBA that there's a significant roadblock in any potential deal for him.

ESPN's Bobby Marks spoke to one team that said LaVine's contract with the Bulls will likely prevent it and most other teams around the league from pursuing him in a trade.

"If we were operating under the 2017 CBA and there were no apron rules, I could make a case to my owner on LaVine," the team told Marks. "But his salary boxes you into a corner on how we can add to the roster."

Counting the rest of this season, LaVine has three years remaining on the $215 million max contract he signed with the Bulls in 2022. His cap hit for this year is $43 million, and he has a $46 million salary for 2025-26 as well as a $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign.

Marks pointed out that if LaVine is traded, the Bulls would owe him 15 percent of his remaining salary as a trade bonus, which amounts to $9.4 million. If the bonus isn't waived, LaVine's cap hit for 2025-26 rises to $51 million.

A two-time All-Star, LaVine is off to a strong start for the 11-15 Bulls with averages of 21.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 50.1 percent from the field and a career-high 42.8 percent from three-point range. He's appeared in 23 of Chicago's 26 games after being limited to just 25 appearances in the entirety of 2023-24 due to a foot injury.

While LaVine would be a difference-maker on a contender, it sounds like teams around the league aren't rushing to pry him away from the Bulls.