JULY 7: LaVine has officially signed, the team tweets.
“We are pleased that Zach remains with the Bulls,” executive VP Arturas Karnisovas said in the statement. “His work ethic and character have helped him to become one of the top players in the NBA.”
JULY 1: The Bulls and guard Zach LaVine are in agreement on a five-year, maximum-salary contract that will include a fifth-year player option, agent Rich Paul tells Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
As our chart of maximum salaries for 2022/23 shows, LaVine will earn approximately $43MM per year on his new deal, which will have a total value of $215,159,700.
LaVine has emerged as one of the NBA’s most talented scorers since last reaching free agency in 2018. An All-Star in each of the last two seasons, the 27-year-old averaged 24.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 4.5 APG on .476/.389/.853 shooting in 67 games (34.7 MPG) in 2021/22, despite battling a left knee issue that forced him to undergo arthroscopic surgery this spring.
When he was a restricted free agent in 2018, LaVine signed a four-year, $78MM offer sheet with the Kings, which Chicago matched. He significantly outplayed that deal and has long been earmarked for a maximum-salary contract this offseason. His health problems this past season raised some questions about whether that max deal would still be on the table, but the knee injury is reportedly not considered a long-term concern.
LaVine was linked to a number of rival suitors earlier in the offseason and didn’t agree to terms with the Bulls right when free agency opened on Thursday, but was always most likely to remain in Chicago — especially with the team willing to offer a fifth year that other teams couldn’t. The Bulls sweetened the pot further by making that fifth year a player option. That option, which applies to the 2026/27 season, will be worth $48,967,380.
LaVine, who was the No. 2 free agent on our top-50 list, has now received the second-largest commitment among free agents this offseason. Our No. 1 free agent, Bradley Beal, also agreed to a five-year, maximum-salary contract, but Beal is eligible for a higher level of max because he more years of NBA service than LaVine.
The Bulls’ projected 2022/23 team salary remains below the tax line, but the team would likely cross into the tax if it uses its full mid-level exception.
Extremely happy for this guy. Hard work & natural talent paying off. BDonovan gonna have to do a better job of keeping Zach as a focal point in the offense bc both he & DeMar gotta thrive for them to win in the playoffs
Good take
I was right again. Dude was going nowhere
That’s what you want, commit over 200 million to a guy who’s knees are already going out.
Who else you gonna get to make you better?
another expert couch GM
Solid move. Now bite the bullet and trade for Godert.
We can’t afford Gobert man
It’s not impossible, Vuc, White/Caruso & brown could get it done maybe.
The centerpiece going out for the Bulls is White when they already have Clarkson while the Jazz are sending the 3 time DPOY over. You would have to include Williams to even start to get Ainge’s attention.
White is a lot younger than Clarkson and I think he’ll be a lot better on another team. Vuc is still a good player, he and White with filler is a fair package. I can’t see Jazz getting much more with the Mitchel/Gobert rumours that never go away.
Brown is gone, FA signed with Lakers
Good point! They still have the contracts for it if they want him. And he’d be a good fit.
Only just seen he’s going to Pups!! Not sure it’s a good with with KAT. And the deal isn’t the best considering.
Mike MB, I wouldn’t have wanted him especially at the price the Wolves paid for him. The Wolves got fleeced. Didn’t they learn anything from the Lakers failed experiment? Apparently not.
Happy for the guy works hard and he’s a baller. An injury risk at times, but a baller. Kinda expected the Bulls to be front runners for KD but if they can stay healthy with the players they currently have, they won’t need him really strong team in Chicago.
Lavine not worth the max
It amazes me that people think 5 time All Star John Wall and former MVP Russell Westbrook were drastically overpaid and yet Zach LaVine getting paid more than that is somehow solid.
In the past 6 years, the most games LaVine has played was 67. In the past 6 years, LaVine has only played in 319 out of 465 possible games or a little over 2 out every 3 games. I don’t think this is what Meat Loaf was talking about when he sang 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.
He is an impact player. Not many of those in the league. He has gotten better on defense, still makes mistakes, but mostly by gambling at the wrong time. Experience eliminates that over time.
john wall is a mini-me, he shot 45/32/78 and was the best player on a terrible team, easily a terrible contract
westbrook was great but he was mostly playing for himself and signed at 30yo
Lavine is 27 and proved this year he can play for the team
all in all terrible comparison
Never pay B or C level players max money. It’s the fastest way to paralyze your organization.
$43MM a year for someone is never healthy enough to play a full season, and no resources/assets left improve roster that is a 8th seed dog at best. I’m done.
Go root for the Wizards then. I’ve seen your posts on MLBTRADERUMORS and you’re a homer for your Sox but yet you continue to doubt the Bulls new front office. I can tell your a bandwagon Bulls fans. It’s okay though, we know you really don’t know basketball if you don’t see the value of signing a proven 25+ PPG scorer and act like they grow on trees.
I heard Sox need a new mascot soon and possibly a coach who can teach their players how to run the bases when a ball is hit to CF and your the lead runner at 2B. LMAO
Good for him. RIP Bulls future if he can’t stay healthy.
I’m not happy. I’m not unhappy. I’m somewhere in the middle. If the Bulls are smart, They’ll rest him during the season on BTB’s, Ball also, So they’re healthy enough for the playoffs. Even doing that they should make the playoffs easily enough. Max players are guys who can basically win you a playoff series by himself. With their guard depth nobody should have to play big minutes early in the season. Is a max player a guy who basically needs his minutes managed to maximize his potential? IDK. I think White has to stay now because basically he can be a minutes eater, Now that Ball and LaVine need to be managed and you can’t depend on Goran for big minutes anymore. I hope this works out but I think it’s a big gamble by AK and Eversley.