Nobody knows what the Chicago Bulls have planned for this summer, but word street is that they aren’t ready to let go of Zach LaVine, who will be an unrestricted free agent next month.
LaVine was traded to the Bulls in 2017 as part of the Jimmy Butler deal that rocked Minnesota at the time. While the prosperity did not last long for the Wolves, Chicago enjoyed better days with LaVine leading the way.
In fact, it was his presence that lured in DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic. So, as rumors of LaVine’s potential departure grow louder, it’s no surprise that Chicago’s VP of basketball operations, Arturas Karnisovas, made a plea for him to stay.
“We’ve been very open that we hope Zach is here for a long time. Nothing has changed.”
Artūras Karnišovas on Zach LaVine: "We've been very open that we hope Zach is here for a long time. Nothing has changed."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) June 27, 2022
Staying in Chicago is not a bad option for Zach. The Bulls looked good this season and could look even better with a few more moves in the summer. Being the main star of a successful big-market team like the Bulls comes with a lot of perks.
For the team, LaVine leaving for nothing would be an enormous blow. Fortunately, all of the experts seem to agree that he is a lock to return to the team.
“LaVine’s free agency has generated plenty of conversation among NBA personnel over the past few weeks,” said Jake Fischer. “But despite rumblings that the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers will make plays for LaVine, the coveted swingman is likely to remain with his current team.”
With Zach staying put, it makes things interesting in the East. With health and another offseason of growth as a unit, the Bulls could be a force to fear next season. At the very least, they’ll be relevant in the standings.
The future certainly looks bright in the house that MJ built.
