Recent reports suggest that it’s no slam dunk Zach LaVine will re-sign with the Bulls. However, execs around the league believe the chatter is agent-driven and he’ll likely stay put, according to Sean Deveney of Heavy.com. The thinking is that his agency, Klutch Sports, is trying to ensure he’s considered the franchise player in Chicago and that he gets a max deal. An NBA source told Deveney, “It is still Zach’s team, Klutch just wants to make sure everyone knows it.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- If LaVine does indeed leave, the Trail Blazers or Spurs would be the logical move for him, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report writes. LaVine could join forces with Damian Lillard in Portland or Dejounte Murray in San Antonio. Re-signing with the Bulls is still the likely outcome, Fischer echoes, but the fact that DeMar DeRozan was often the crunch-time go-to scorer this season may play a role in LaVine exploring other options.
- Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer made a mistake playing George Hill over Jevon Carter against Boston, Eric Nehm of The Athletic opines. Budenholzer overestimated Hill’s postseason impact as he battled through an abdominal injury. Nehm explores numerous topics in his mailbag, including how Milwaukee could improve defensively in future postseasons.
- With the Bucks near the luxury-tax threshold for the 2022/23 season, they’ll once again be looking for players who will sign at the veteran’s minimum, Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes. Owczarski looks at all of the team’s free agent decisions this summer, pointing out Milwaukee will only have the taxpayer mid-level exception at its disposal to sign outside free agents beyond those minimum-salary roster fillers.
I don’t see why Lavine keeps getting linked to the Blazers. Anfernee Simons showed he’s legit and we can match any offer for him. We need a 3 or a 4 with our cap space/picks/trade exceptions, not a guard. If you want a 6’5” dude to play the 3 just re-sign Josh Hart. After playing Norm at the 3 and that not working well (because the Blazers sucked, not Norm’s fault), why would we continue to spend money on an out of position player?
Norm is not a starting 2 lol. Not a starter at all tbh. Great off the bench! Watched him for years in TO. Wish him all the best but you’re trippin.
Yeah nvm I misread, commas and paragraphs are your friend.
Why are you blaming me for you misreading lmao
I’ll keep saying it. Never pay B or C level players max money. It’s the fastest way to paralyze your franchise.
While I kinda agree, but it’s the cost of doing business. You may re-sign him then trade him later vs get nothing. You could sign and trade but then you have to make that work too. Also consider who deserves full max. Maybe 10-15 guys. So if you don’t have those guys then what? Are you banking DeRozan will repeat this season’s performance? And if you trade guys too often, then you get a reputation, ala Danny Ainge. It’s very intricate side of the business
Not “for nothing”… Capspace would open up for someone else. Better to offer max to Ayton, esp with no real PF.
Ainge has that reputation?
LaVine is not a max player. He’s not even the best player on the Bulls and arguably not even the 2nd best. Paying him would be a mistake. I think Karni knows this, but is going to have to navigate not looking like he’s stabbing LaVine in the back for free agent optics. If Zach secures a max from another team, idk that we match it. Offering him the full 5 yr max would be a huge mistake, he seems like another iteration of Chandler Parsons, knee is only gonna get worse
If Blazers do 7/parts for Grant, you don’t think Dame is gonna be all other LeVine as the third piece? That would be an interesting team all the sudden.
Lavine is the prototype player that you hope your favorite team does not over commit to. Just not a winning player, Bulls are not a contender with or without him.
I don’t care who’s starting the rumors, I just hope it’s true. I still say the best long term move for the Bulls would be to sign and trade LaVine, Move Coby White, And get younger and get some assets back. The Spurs would get the better assets back I would think as the Bulls already have Portlands pick next year already, Unless they totally stink again next year which I think would be unlikely. Especially if Lavine makes it there somehow. If the Bulls keep LaVine, Cap space goes out the window for 5 years and creates an untradeable contract.