The Chicago Bulls saw their season predictably end in the first round after they were matched up against the reigning champions in the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bulls had a very strong start to the year, but injuries and an inability to compete against the elite teams put a ceiling on how successful they would be in year one of their new-look team.
However, the Bulls are in danger of seeing their new-look team completely disintegrate, as Zach LaVine approaches free agency. The Bulls didn’t manage to extend LaVine’s contract during the season and now will have to fight the open market in determining his value.
LaVine has been an All-Star for the last two seasons and is one of the most valuable scoring guards in the league. He is a perfect piece to put alongside anyone, as he showed this season with DeMar DeRozan. As a result, DeRozan is already vouching for LaVine to get the max contract from Chicago this summer.
DeMar DeRozan on Zach LaVine: "Max player, max talent, max everything."
— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) April 28, 2022
If the Bulls fail to extend Zach because they were unwilling to pay him the max, it will be a massive misstep on their part. LaVine stuck through the rebuild in Chicago even when his emergence meant he could possibly start looking at contenders. The team put LaVine in a position to make his debut playoffs, but now they need to figure out how to make this a winning team.
Possible competitors for LaVine’s signature could be the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, and other teams with cap space. However, none of these teams are contenders and there is no reason for LaVine to take a step backward now that he has been to the post-season.
The Bulls have gotten LaVine to trust in them to make the right moves around him, but will the Bulls’ front office make the right move when it concerns him directly? We will find out.
