Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine receiving strong interest from Sacramento Kings
By Ryan Heckman
The Chicago Bulls may already have their first competing team for the services of restricted free agent Zach LaVine.
Very shortly, the Chicago Bulls will be thrown into the thick of a game that most fans aren’t excited for. Zach LaVine is set to be a restricted free agent and, if the price becomes to steep, the Bulls may choose to let him walk.
We have done our fair share of analyzing over LaVine’s situation and most of us here agree that the Bulls should only bring him back if the price is right. However, with big name free agents only going after a ring at this point, there will be a second wave of teams looking to spend all of their cash on the second tier guys, which is exactly where LaVine is.
One team consistently mentioned as strongly considering a run at Zach LaVine in restricted free agency: The Kings.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) June 28, 2018
K.C. Johnson isn’t the only media member to mention the Kings. This week on the Bulls Talk Podcast, Vincent Goodwill of NBC Sports mentioned that the Kings like LaVine “a lot.” So, it looks like Sacramento is the biggest threat right now.
While most fans might be assuming this is the first we have heard of a legitimate threat to come in and offer LaVine a nice deal, it is not. Just a couple of days ago, Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports made it clear that there are other realistic landing spots at this point in the game.
#Bulls' RFA PG Zach LaVine is an intriguing name to several teams. Still just 23, LaVine is an elite finisher who can play both on and off the ball. 6-5 playmaker who shoots it and will command big $$$. #Lakers, #Pacers and the #Kings are other possibilities.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 25, 2018
Ideally, the Bulls bring LaVine back on a deal worth no more than $15-$17 million per year. But, there is always the possibility another team decides to pull out even more cash. If it comes down to that, I’m out if I am John Paxson.
LaVine has made it clear he would love to stay in Chicago, but we all know one thing about professional sports: Above everything else, it’s a business. Very rarely are you proven otherwise. If the Bulls find that LaVine’s price is too steep, believe me, they will bow out.
Next: Bulls: 5 free agents to avoid
If LaVine ends up on his way out of Chicago, not all is lost. The Bulls simply shift their focus to other guys and attempt to spend wisely. What other players would fit well? There are many other shooting guards out there who shoot the ball better or play at a higher level defensively. Don’t be fooled. LaVine leaving is not the end of the world.