Signs are pointing to Zach LaVine re-signing with the Chicago Bulls in free agency. K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago says the expectation is the Bulls will offer LaVine a five-year max deal worth around $212 million when free agency begins, and the two-time All-Star will ultimately accept.
Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas was asked about LaVine's free agency on Wednesday during the press conference to introduce No. 18 pick Dalen Terry. While Karnisovas didn't get into specifics or officially confirm anything, he reiterated Chicago's desire to secure LaVine's commitment:
This comes after Bulls general manager Marc Eversley said on draft night that the franchise is prepared to do whatever it takes to re-sign LaVine. While there could be some haggling over final details of the contract, it sure seems as if LaVine will indeed back back in Chicago on a max deal.
The max deal will be well-earned by LaVine. The 26-year-old shooting guard has blossomed into a star with the Bulls, single-handedly salvaging the return in the Jimmy Butler trade in 2017. LaVine made his first All-Star Game in 2021 and then earned All-Star honors again this past season.
In addition to making the All-Star Game again, LaVine finally made the playoffs for the first time in his career this past season. Chicago went 46-36 to get the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls' record and seeding likely would have been better if LaVine wasn't dealing with a nagging knee injury throughout the last few months of the season, among other key injuries on the roster. LaVine's injury ultimately required surgery after the season ended with a first-round loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Inking LaVine is priority No. 1 for Chicago this offseason, and then the front office will continue to work on building a better team around him and DeMar DeRozan.