The Sacramento Kings took a flyer on Chicago Bulls restricted free agent Zach LaVine after signing him to a huge four-year $78 million offer sheet, per ESPN's Marc J. Spears.
Despite cashing in on a megabuck deal, the former Slam Dunk champion still have bitter feelings over the development.
“I'm disappointed that I had to get an offer sheet from another team,” LaVine, 23, told The Undefeated. “But Sacramento stepped up and made a strong impression. It appears that Sacramento wants me more than Chicago.”
While he has a right to feel that way over Chicago, the young guard needs to realize the intricacy of restricted free agency. Mother teams normally stand pat until their players receive an offer sheet from another franchise. That way, it allows them to gauge the player's market value.
Despite missing the early part of last season as he recovered from an ACL injury, LaVine finished the year strong for the Windy City squad, averaging 16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, three assists, and a steal per ballgame.
The Bulls have a couple of days to match the offer made by Sacramento. If so, LaVine would be automatically retained by the Eastern Conference squad. According to Spears, however, the Bulls do not appear to be as enthusiastic as the Kings when it comes to securing LaVine's services.
LaVine could be joining a Sacramento team that has loaded itself with solid lottery talent the past couple of years with De'Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III. Furthermore, Buddy Hield, Willie Cauley-Stein, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Skal Labissiere round up the intriguing pieces of the Kings' youth movement.
The franchise has been marred by a reputation of dysfunction for quite a while, but his addition could spark a promising uprising that should ignite the fandom in Sac-Town.
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