The Bulls and star guard Zach LaVine have yet to reach an agreement on a contract extension, something the 26-year-old is simply viewing as a product of business, he told Vincent Goodwill of NBC Sports Chicago (video link).
“It’s business. At the end of the day, I have my own things that I want to go after,” he said. “I have a lot of different motivations in my life that I try to use on the court, but I’m focused on this next upcoming year, seeing how good that I can help this team win and obviously keep developing myself and getting better as a player.”
Should the sides fail to reach an extension, LaVine would become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The All-Star guard is set to make just $19.5MM in his deal this coming season.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Speaking of the Bulls, LaVine is excited to play with his new teammates this fall, Sean Deveney of Forbes writes. Chicago added DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Derrick Jones Jr. and others this summer, upgrading its roster alongside LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. “I think we have a great group of guys and talent going in there,” LaVine said. “Especially when you have high expectations—you want to live up to those. I want to start early from the ground, get everybody on the same page, obviously we have a lot of new players, a lot of new personalities. We have expectations this year, but we have to go out there and show people why we want to go out there and win.”
- The Cavaliers‘ two-year deal with Denzel Valentine is partially guaranteed in the first season and non-guaranteed in the second, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Valentine is expected to compete for a role at shooting guard and small forward this season. He spent the last five years with the Bulls, averaging 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 19.8 minutes per game on 39% shooting from the field and 36% shooting from three-point range.
- Cleveland is likely to make one more minor signing for training camp, Fedor notes (via Twitter). As we previously reported, the Cavaliers recently finalized training camp contracts with both RJ Nembhard and Mitch Ballock. The team also signed Tre Scott and Tacko Fall to camp deals earlier this month.
Can’t believe the Bulls are taking their time re-signing a no defense shooting guard with his potential replacement on the roster.
His replacement (Two future top 10 picks) was traded to Orlando. … The bulls screwed up
Who’s this potential replacement for a 25 to 51/41/85% shooting guard who averaged 27/5/5?
Agree with you. There is no replacing LaVine. Am sure the Bulls and LaVine (and his agent) know what it will take to get a new deal done. Am sure the new contract is being worked on.
At basketball reference his defense bpm is -1.1 which is simply BAD. but his offensive bpm is 4.8 which is good to very good. And his efficiency WS/48 was above league average but not superstar level.
So if you think his offensive game can improve and if he plays any defense at all he’ll be a good investment.
Otherwise it’s risky.
“It’s a business. At the end of the day, I have my own things that I want to go after,” he said. “I have a lot of different motivations in my life that I try to use on the court…”
What exactly is the business he references?— he seems to have other activilies on his mind. With all the fans who think he’s not a winner, why would he even provide this smh-support? Does BB embarrass him?
“… we have to go out there and show people why we want to go out there and win.”
Why indeed. Business, I guess.
just looked up his investments and he only has one, overtime elite since april. other investors include bezos, drake, and other players. looks like he’s trying to play on a different level.
@x%sure
whatever those things are he said he uses them for motivation on the court soooooo…….
Valentine could shoot better from 3 if he doesn’t have playmaking on his mind. But he did, at least when he was younger and coming off all-big10 MVP. Not sure what his state of mind is now or what the CLE staff intends. He’s not really quick or big enough to get to the rim.
Jack of all trades, master of nothing.
It is frustrating to see media outlets and reporters not acknowledge that LaVine could make more money potentially if he signs a contract next year than what the Bulls could offer on an extension.
If LaVine makes an All-NBA team, which is unlikely but not impossible, he would be eligible for the supermax. Rich Paul is his agent. Rich Paul clients almost always bet on themselves.
What does that mean? It means LaVine wanted an extension offer but was never going to take it. The “respect” comment wasn’t that he wanted the offer to accept it. He wanted the offer to decline it and then bet on himself. The Bulls front office knew that and decided not to hold their offseason hostage and lose out on free agents.
So reporters and outlets are being disingenuous when they make it sound like the Bulls and LaVine havent agreed to an extension. LaVine was never going to take an extension when he has a chance at more money and unless he blows out an ACL, he will still get the same max contract offer he is eligible for if he fails to make an All NBA team.
You are saying that LaVine can get a larger contract if he just plays out this final year of his contract and the becomes an unrestricted FA. Does this mean that the Bulls have no choice but to trade LaVine at the mid season trade deadline in March? Obviously the Bulls cannot allow LaVine to just play out this final year of his contract and receive nothing at all.
He can only get the supermax from the Bulls. So worst case scenario is the Bulls do the Durant deal where they do a sign and trade to get an asset and/or picks back.
Okay. Thanks for making the situation clearer. So the Bulls could conceivably let LaVine play all of next season and then ‘sign and trade’ because only the Bulls can offer a ‘supermax’ contract?
Bulls now have Blazers 2022 Lottery Protected First Round Pick.
What happens if Blazers miss the playoffs?
Then they don’t get it.
They don’t get it in 2022, but then it continues to carry over (with lottery protection) all the way until 2028. If the Blazers somehow manage to miss the playoffs in each of the next 7 seasons (which is highly unlikely), then it becomes a 2nd round pick in 2028.