Staring down the barrel of a season where the Chicago Bulls miss the postseason entirely, some franchise-altering decisions are set to be made. One of the most significant will be what happens with the recently signed Zach LaVine. After inking a 5-year, 215 million dollar deal this past offseason, LaVine has not entirely played to his potential and has not earned the lucrative payday yet. While he's still got four more years to prove worthy of being the top-20 paid player that he is, Chicago may look to deal the 27-year-old in efforts to rebuild or re-tool for the future with more cap space and young assets they would receive in return for the two-time All-Star.
Shaky Relationship With Billy Donovan
The best season in Zach LaVine's career came the year that Donovan arrived, and the two have seemingly grown a bit apart since the honeymoon phase. Narrowly missing the postseason in their first year together, seeing a first-round exit in their second, and now slated to miss the playoffs entirely in their third, tempers have begun to rise with the lack of improvement between two of the franchise's most important pieces.
There's no secret that LaVine has been visibly frustrated at times with Donovan and his role on the team in general, including early on in the season when LaVine was benched in the fourth quarter for his abysmal play the rest of that game. He took exception to Donovan's decision to sideline him, and all indications show that the two have not seen eye-to-eye since that incident.
Despite rumors, LaVine stays adamant that things are fine between him and his head coach, but even his choice of words in his responses would hint otherwise, and his demeanor may be leaking elsewhere in the locker room. A leader of an NBA team usually doesn't dance around questions regarding if he's being put in the "best positions offensively to succeed individually to help the team win."
Where Did It Go Wrong?
Sitting here a year ago atop the Eastern Conference, all things pointed toward a deep playoff run; where'd the Bulls take the wrong turn? Simply put, adversity struck, and the leaders did not respond accordingly. As Donovan, DeRozan, and LaVine have all preached in press conferences all year long, losing Lonzo Ball was a deafening blow to Chicago, and they have yet to get back up off the canvas over 365 days later.
Without a point guard, both of the Bulls' stars have had to assume more of a playmaking style, which neither is accustomed to. DeRozan has been a bit better than LaVine in their adjusted roles. Of the two, he's the one who's raised his assist totals and decreased his turnover rates, while LaVine has done the exact opposite in each category.
"I think without Lonzo, it just puts a little bit more weight on me and DeMar to play different roles almost. Having a facilitator like Lonzo, a lead guard like that, helps us both out. We miss him, but you can’t put the blame on us not playing well because of Lonzo. We have to figure it out. That’s how the NBA is---people are going to be injured. Your best players have to lead the way and your supporting cast has to help as well. We have to be more consistent."
Zach LaVine via NBC Chicago
The former UCLA guard is also having his worst season in nearly five years and, as he's admitted, is subject to scrutiny when the team is not performing as expected. Recovering from off-season knee surgery had him stumbling out of the gate and missing four games early on, and he has shown more consistent flashes of his usual self as of late. Nevertheless, this season, LaVine's points, assists, and three-point percentage are all lower than ever since his first year in Chicago. Not a great way to respond to a max-contract extension.
"Obviously, I’m in a big market---Chicago, LA, New York. If your best players are on the court and your team isn’t where it’s supposed to be, that’s what is going to happen."
Zach LaVine via NBC Chicago
Trade Talk
There have been several slight hints from the organization that things will change soon in the Windy City if this season finishes as the current downward trajectory would suggest. Following Thursday's silent trade deadline, front office leader Arturas Karnisovas constantly used the phrase "for these last 28 games" whenever asked about the future or this summer. He also mentioned these games being a lesson to the franchise about what pieces they would build with and which they would be parting ways from.
Bulls' Insider K.C. Johnson also had his insight on the 2023 summer, saying that he sees stars DeRozan and LaVine as movable pieces if Chicago looks to re-build.
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times also reported that LaVine's name was active in trade talks before this year's deadline and that a fellow Eastern Conference team was the front-runner.
Zach LaVine's periodic disgruntled answers and demeanor, his questionable relationship with his head coach and fellow star DeMar DeRozan, and the several reports of his name already being active in trade talks at the deadline and this upcoming summer lead all signs to the two-time All-Star being shipped this summer. Will he be playing his last 25 games in a Bulls uniform in the upcoming two months?
What do you want to see done with Zach LaVine this summer? Vote Below!
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