In 2018, Zach LaVine did everything in his power to try and leave the Chicago Bulls to go be a member of the Sacramento Kings. The Bulls ended up matching the contract sheet LaVine agreed with Sacramento and kept the star guard with the team for 4 more years. Those 4 years ended this season, with LaVine emerging as an All-Star in the last 2 years.
The Bulls built a contender around LaVine last year by aggressively adding players like DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball. However, an injury-riddled season saw them not make a deep playoff run. That is something they hope to change this season, especially with LaVine inking a contract for 5 more years with the team.
After failing to contend once again, LaVine quite easily signed an extension with the Bulls. There were rumors of LaVine being interested in going to LA, but his deal was announced fairly quickly after being agreed upon. LaVine has since revealed that he didn’t take a meeting with any other team during his free agency out of respect and loyalty to the organization.
#Bulls' Zach LaVine on bypassing a free agency tour: "Once I was able to meet with Marc and AK and they came to me with everything I wanted, there was no other reason for me to go outside and look at any other teams. I think that would’ve been, for me, disrespectful on my end."
— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) July 11, 2022
The Bulls front office that signed LaVine was very different compared to the one they have now. They have a player-friendly coach in Billy Donovan and the Bulls have emphasized to LaVine repeatedly that they want to build a championship contender with him on the squad. There are very few teams where LaVine could go and compete for a title as the number 1 option.
It made perfect sense for Zach to continue building with DeMar DeRozan in Chicago. Prior to the injuries that decimated the team last season, the Bulls were in contention to be the top seed of the Eastern Conference. With the moves they can make around their core, they will be looking to be right back in that mix in 2022-23.
