After just one season, the first iteration of the Chicago Bulls' superteam experiment may be coming to a close. Rumors of Zach LaVine's possible departure from Chicago in free agency are swirling.
Thursday, LaVar Ball, father of Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, added fuel to the fire. Ball revealed in an interview with David Kaplan that he believes the true source of LaVine's frustrations are teammate DeMar DeRozan.
LaVar Ball believes LaVine is tired of playing behind DeMar DeRozan and could land with the Lakers đź‘€
(via @thekapman) pic.twitter.com/rmieGagf8U
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 19, 2022
Proclamations from LaVar Ball are typically taken with a grain of salt. However, a report from Marc Stein has assisted in legitimizing Ball's claims. Stein writes that within NBA franchises there is a feeling that LaVine is “potentially chafing” with DeRozan's media attention this season, incentivizing teams to pursue a sign-and-trade for the 27-year-old, 2x All-Star.
LaVine is projected to earn a contract around five years in length and upwards of 200 million in amount. It would likely take the Bulls signing the extension with the wing with the plan of moving him for other pieces to make the departure work.
In five seasons with the Bulls, LaVine has averaged 24.8 points per game on 34.1 minutes. Chicago's current landscape was set up around LaVine. The Bulls front office brought in an excess of talent like Ball and DeRozan in hopes they could entice LaVine into committing to the team long-term.
Chicago has been put in a serious predicament whether they trade LaVine or not, and time will tell how GM Marc Eversley will navigate the situation.
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