Speaking today to reporters, including K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter links), Bulls president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said his hope is to have Zach LaVine in Chicago going forward and that he’s confident the two sides can work out a new deal, given their strong relationship. LaVine will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Addressing LaVine’s left knee injury, which was a nagging issue for much of the 2021/22 season, Karnisovas suggested it’s unlikely to be a major factor in free agency negotiations and that a final determination hasn’t been made on whether the All-Star guard will require surgery. As Johnson notes, an MRI on the knee showed nothing structurally wrong that would create long-term concern, but surgery still appears likely.
In his own session with the media, LaVine confirmed that he’s going to meet with his doctor in Los Angeles to determine the best plan of action for his knee (Twitter link via Johnson). He also stated that free agency is a “big decision” for him and his family and that he intends to take his time to consider all his options (Twitter link via Johnson).
While LaVine said he’ll leave it to his agent and the Bulls’ front office to try to work out a deal, he admitted that being a maximum-salary player is important to him, tweets Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago: “I see myself as a top guy in this league and I think I’ve proven that over the last four years.”
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- Besides retaining LaVine, Karnisovas likes the idea of keeping the Bulls’ roster mostly intact and making minor changes around the edges, tweets Schaefer. “Hopefully we can keep the core together and work around the margins,” Karnisovas said.
- Lonzo Ball is on board with Karnisovas’ plan to maintain the current core, writes Sam Smith of Bulls.com. “I would love to run it back,” Ball said. “I was unhealthy this year. (Alex) Caruso went down. Pat(rick Williams) was pretty much out all the way until the playoffs. Everyone knows Zach was playing hurt pretty much this whole year. If everybody can get healthy and come back, I don’t see why we couldn’t run it back.” DeMar DeRozan added that he has “the utmost trust and faith in the front office to do the job,” Smith writes.
- In his Bulls offseason preview, Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype examines LaVine’s free agency, a possible extension for Nikola Vucevic, and more.
I am on the side of sign and trade LaVine and upgrade PF instead…
LaVine knee problem is going to be an issue and it would be insane to Max contract him and keep him.
He doesn’t have knee problems the bulls without Lavine aren’t making the playoffs idk why everyone is changing on him he was playing hurt and didn’t complain while the Bulls were rebuilding the Bulls would be dumb not to pay him the max.
You sign and trade Zach and you go backwards, awful idea, the Bulls running it back is also not gonna change results, you cannot have 1 weak defender at center in the East with zero front court depth
What if LaVine forces their hand though? Sign and trade or he just leaves. They aren’t going to win a championship as currently constructed. LaVine grew up about 170 miles from Portland and Portland can create the space to make it happen.
LaVine is not the reason the Bulls made the playoffs and a sign and trade does not move the Bulls backwards by any means!
LaVine has had knee issues before and they will not get better, so move him now or don’t and when he is like Rose or Wall just remember none of you wanted to do what was right…
He doesn’t have knee issues?
Since when?
He played all season with it and might need surgery on it, so yeah he has knee issues and those do not go away!
Because you like a player shouldn’t blind you from reality and he is a sign and trade candidate and shouldn’t be maxed out for the Bulls!
Also LaVine isn’t the reason the Bulls made the playoffs and it was DD that made it happen this year!
LaVine has been with this team a few years and he is not carrying this team and let be clear he will never carry the Bulls…
Sign and Trade him for a PF that can help this team…
If Lavine has proved anything, it’s that he canNOT be “that guy”. He was never on a winning team until this year and he definitely was not the best player on our team.
They have Demar and he definitely can be a number one. He is an all star
They need an inside presence offensively and a rim protector defensively. Vuc needs to play closer to basket if he stays. Lavine is outstanding, but not a max player. I’d pay him if it came to keeping or losing for nothing. They are loaded at guard and thin up front. For the first time in a while, I trust front office to make decisions.
Run it back, this team was COMPLETELY DIFFERENT when they had Lonzo, and they looked liked a real contender when healthy. They deserve to at least give these guys another shot, while fortifying their frontcourt depth.
They were only different until other teams figured them out
Once Milwaukee started using Brook Lopez for half of what he played the first 2 games, the Bulls didnt really have much they could do to answer, with the 5 spot being their biggest issue, behind Vucevic. They could use a floor spacer there and a backup that can defend pick and roll and protect the rim
*utmost trust and faith
Season didn’t end so great, but I doubt the plan has changed, and, going in, it was creating a core that included LaVine. Without LaVine being there, the plan would almost certainly have been different.
LaVine is an UFA. CHI doesn’t have a matching right or some kind of option to S&T him. If they don’t resign him, a S&T possibility will exist only if LaVine and his new team request it due to a lack of cap space (or CHI requests it for the TPE, at their cost). Even if LaVine needs it, though, the price (CHI’s haul) will almost certainly be modest. Fairly proscribed return – expiring deal(s) and a middling 1st round pick.