Wiretap: Bulls Hope To Re-Sign Zach LaVine At $14M-$16M

[JimmyJammer]

What's up with nba players' measurements? Almost all players with 3/4 of a measurement is rounded off to the next higher number. For example, Spencer Dinwiddie is measured at 6ft4.5 without shoes, but with shoes he is 6f5.75, and his official listed height is 6f6. Jordan Clarkson is measured at 6f3.5 without shoes, but with shoes he is 6ft4.475, and his official listed height is 6ft5. In general, whenever it is .5 or higher, it is rounded off to the highest number. Well, in the case of LaVine, it is different. In 2014, LaVine was measured at 6ft4.5 without shoes, but 6f5.75 with shoes, and yet his official height is 6ft 5. He is obviously 6ft6. So, what's the logic behind these numbers?

http://www.nbadraft.net/2014-nba-draft-combine-measurements

[TheHrvReport]

How good Lavine turns out to be is one of the biggest factors in whether or not this rebuild is going to be a success. If he does come back this year and gets back to being a guy who can average around 18 per game and shoot 3's at near 40%, and be somewhat efficient, and be at least decent on defense, it obviously will be huge in terms of filling the sg spot for the next 5 years or so.

If he either leaves in free agency, or comes back and doesn't perform any better than he did last year, it sets us back by one starter.

this is why i cant stand most bulls fans. these comments like this. first you say if he can avg around 18 ppg and near 40% threes. isnt that almost what he did coming off a serious injury feeling his body and game out. we know hes going to be better then that version. hes not rehabbing right now. hes busting his butt while your talking about him. this is pitiful these pro athletes have to hear or have people with little to know knowledge about sports try to dictate there career. no offense at all to you. just put yourself in his shoes.

you tore your acl and came back playing pretty good for a player off a bad injury. still explosive.just needs time to get his timing back and come back in shape. hes doing that now. like the other poster said. who really has more upside then him. if hes a athletic version of klay thompson im all for it. were in no shape to be letting players walk for free. who is the target if not lavine. some aging player who you or everyone else will be crying about next year. its embarassing sometimes to read some of these posts.

id go as far as saying that his cut off salary demands end right at 19 mill maybe 20. im not going above that. and if he does sign for that then it has to be a 3 year deal with the 3rd year team option. but i would get him back and i think that would do it. worst thing for him is that he averages 23 ppg and not being paid like it. he has a right to want more then 14 mill. players like wesley matthews got a 15 mill deal after coming off a injury hit season. do i need to bring up joakim noah. if he doesnt work out then trade him. hes claimed hes working on defense and we see the workouts. if hes not back in chi next year this whole front office including reinsdorf are complete frauds

This. Some of those posts are really embarasssing. Pay him as much as a 32 year old Lou Williams? Get the FOH with that bs

[SensiBull]

Statements like, "If he doesn't work out, trade him," are why I can't stand reading comments from certain other Bulls fans.

Trades are not a wastebasket. This is not some closed-door workout session. If you sign a player to big money, and he doesn't work out, the WHOLE LEAGUE gets to see that he didn't work out and that they have to take on that ridiculous salary that you CHOSE to pay him.

This is how a Chandler Parsons happens - just like this.

This is not some used car where you can hide the fact that you've been in an accident and doctor the miles to get some sucker to over pay. You don't "just trade" players you misjudge and overpay.

No one will want to buy your mistake off of you.

[BullsFTW]

I still prefer re-signing LaVine to a reasonable contract opposed to signing realistic options in the market.

[SensiBull]

And that doesn't mean that I "hate" him or that people have "soured" on him.

There is no need to put the decision into some sort of emotional context. This isn't The Bold and the Beautiful. There is no revenge plot between ex-lovers here.

It's about risk and reward. It's about value for money.

It's about managing salary cap space on a team that clearly has other needs to shop for on the shopping list that need to fit in the budget and aren't cheap.

[kulaz3000]

What's up with nba players' measurements? Almost all players with 3/4 of a measurement is rounded off to the next higher number. For example, Spencer Dinwiddie is measured at 6ft4.5 without shoes, but with shoes he is 6f5.75, and his official listed height is 6f6. Jordan Clarkson is measured at 6f3.5 without shoes, but with shoes he is 6ft4.475, and his official listed height is 6ft5. In general, whenever it is .5 or higher, it is rounded off to the highest number. Well, in the case of LaVine, it is different. In 2014, LaVine was measured at 6ft4.5 without shoes, but 6f5.75 with shoes, and yet his official height is 6ft 5. He is obviously 6ft6. So, what's the logic behind these numbers?

http://www.nbadraft.net/2014-nba-draft-combine-measurements

Because it doesn't matter. Some players are taller, but listed shorter. Some players are shorter, but listed taller.

KG I believe was 7'1 and kept his listing at 6'11, same with Duncan (7' at least). Hakeem was closer to 6'10, but was listed as a 7 footer. I actually think Jordan was closer to 6'4-5 than 6'6.

[MrFortune3]

Statements like, "If he doesn't work out, trade him," are why I can't stand reading comments from certain other Bulls fans.

Trades are not a wastebasket. This is not some closed-door workout session. If you sign a player to big money, and he doesn't work out, the WHOLE LEAGUE gets to see that he didn't work out and that they have to take on that ridiculous salary that you CHOSE to pay him.

This is how a Chandler Parsons happens - just like this.

This is not some used car where you can hide the fact that you've been in an accident and doctor the miles to get some sucker to over pay. You don't "just trade" players you misjudge and overpay.

No one will want to buy your mistake off of you.

LaVine is a young and talented player, he's part of the foundation the Bulls are attempting to build into something special.
Chicago is not now nor has it ever been a FA destination, no matter how much money they have had to spend.

Let's say you don't spend it on LaVine, then where else are you going to spend it? Hope for LeBron? Pray Jabari Parker turns into a stud and stays healthy? Load up for AD and assume he's not going to re-sign with the Pels?
Realistically, what is your plan if you don't re-sign LaVine?

[rtblues]

Read on Twitter

#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.
8:16 PM - 25 Jun 2018

[dumbell78]

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#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.
8:16 PM - 25 Jun 2018

Sac is the wild card, they may offer a ridiculous amount. Indy has Vic and they wont stunt his play with a guy like Zach. Especially with the year Vic just had. LA wont break the bank on some consolation prize. They remain focused on big FA's and if they don't sign anyone, they will wait another year.

[GimmeDat]

Read on Twitter

#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.
8:16 PM - 25 Jun 2018

Seems pretty much like speculation to me. 'Possibilities'. I think Pacers prioritize a 4 like Gordon or Parker in FA (Lavine does not fit with Oladipo), I find it unlikely LA would throw heaps of money at Lavine given their attempts to preserve cap for the true big name FA's, and I think the Kings are pretty high on Hield, who brings roughly the same skill-set and production, and both are straight 2's with little positional variance.

[SensiBull]

In all debate or discussion, it is very easy to play the foil.

Offensive players have actually catch the ball and run with it. Defensive players only have to disrupt. Lesser skill produces seemingly equal results.

You don't even have to have opposing thumbs.

That said, a responsible opposer of the idea would VOLUNTEER names of players who cannot be had, or offer examples of cities that can get free agents, comparing Chicago's inability to that other city.

You've done none of that.

Playing the foil allows one to be vague and inarticulate and still sound like they have a point.

You've thrown the whole burden on justifying NOT paying Zach LaVine, as if spending the money is the default position.

I disagree. I think you have to justify his salary, not justify refusal to pay him.

Frankly, the depth on the bench we have already in players who can put in minutes at the SG position, in Jerian Grant, Justin Holiday, Denzel Valentine, Sean Kilpatrick, and even Cameron Payne in a 'small ball' situation, makes what Zach LaVine has to offer, over and above that, marginal at best.

That's before even discussing, not just taking Chicago out of context, but the whole league's track record with free agency. Every time a free agent of note signs, several teams miss out, not just the Bulls, and there is still only one trophy given out at the end of that season. So, it's all relative.

There might be DISCUSSION about free agents going to big markets, but none of Knicks, Nets, Bulls, LAK or Philly have signed a major free agent recently, and those are the 5 biggest markets in the country.

Free agent salary conditions allow the incumbent team to offer more money than other franchises. That's not just a Chicago problem. So, it's only relative. It's not some 'disadvantage' that justifies overpaying modest talent.

Miami is a sunny destination, and it hasn't signed anyone noteworthy in free agency since LeBron in 2010.

The Clippers have had some signings, but have no rings to show for all the cash they've spent.

Oklahoma City (Carmelo Anthony), Golden State (Kevin Durant), Boston (Gordon Hayward), Cleveland (LeBron James), San Antonio (Pau Gasol).

With the possible exception of Golden State representing the combined Bay Area cities of San Francisco and Oakland, none of these are large market or warm weather cities, and, they were successful BEFORE signing Kevin Durant. I don't think there is any dispute that Golden State was built through the DRAFT and only modest skill-based ROLE PLAYERS in free agency.

Boston is a small town, but, with a tradition of winning in all four major sports. Nevertheless, Gordon Hayward didn't play all season, and Kyrie was acquired through a trade, not free agency.

So, what we're seeing is that any team that can put together a promising BASKETBALL future, can get free agents over and above off-field endorsements in large-market or warm-weather cities.

Again, that's not strictly a Chicago problem.

The Knicks and Nets aren't a free agent destination either.

So, enough with the 'grass is greener', 'woe is us', 'What the hell else are we going to do?' attitude.

I don't buy it.

At some point, we need to have a promising roster, built through draft and trades, and a chance at winning that only needs the right free agent to put us over the top, not to become Jack's proverbial bean stalk, and to have the cap space to pay that eventual free agent. You don't preserve that cash by splashing max contracts on average talent.

The last free agent that the Bulls supposedly wiffed on was Carmelo Anthony, and, if he has proven anything, it's that he is about his paper, and not the rings.

[RebuildaBulls]

Well wouldnt be a huge loss but I think Bulls have the leverage here since a only a couple NBA teams have huge capspace

[Red Larrivee]

Read on Twitter

#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.
8:16 PM - 25 Jun 2018

Pretty much the reason he'll be back barring some insane offer.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[GimmeDat]

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[kulaz3000]

Read on Twitter

Why should it?

Go get yourself the best offer available, and let's go from there.

I don't see why it would be complicated.

[League Circles]

Statements like, "If he doesn't work out, trade him," are why I can't stand reading comments from certain other Bulls fans.

Trades are not a wastebasket. This is not some closed-door workout session. If you sign a player to big money, and he doesn't work out, the WHOLE LEAGUE gets to see that he didn't work out and that they have to take on that ridiculous salary that you CHOSE to pay him.

This is how a Chandler Parsons happens - just like this.

This is not some used car where you can hide the fact that you've been in an accident and doctor the miles to get some sucker to over pay. You don't "just trade" players you misjudge and overpay.

No one will want to buy your mistake off of you.

Thank you it blows my mind too. If we signed Zach and it doesn't work out we're either stuck with him or we're going to have to give some serious value to get rid of the contract. If it does work out then we're not really going to want to trade him. I don't really believe any players should be signed to NBA contracts for the express intent of trading them.

[League Circles]

Elite finisher? Playmaker? FOH

[rtblues]

Read on Twitter

Why should it?

Go get yourself the best offer available, and let's go from there.

I don't see why it would be complicated.

I believe that the main point of dispute that may see the negotiations go south is fairly simply,
Lavine and his agent have a far different assessment of his talents than that of the rest of the league,
including the Bulls.

Lavine''s "sticker shock" is coming soon. The MARKET dictates his VALUE, and not
him, his or agent, the Bulls and certainly not fans on boards . When the market decides what he is worth, he will stop squirming and reality will set in, and he will have to sign a lower than hoped for offer, somewhere and prove it. It's called reality.

[JimmyJammer]

Read on Twitter

#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.
8:16 PM - 25 Jun 2018

Those of you who are praying for a 12-15mil contract will be in for a big surprise. LaVine is a 6ft6 athletic freak, with PG ball handling skills, with unlimited range in his shots, with ability to take it to the hoop or step back on the perimeter, with elite work ethic, with solid man-to-man defense and improving team defense, and he just turned 23. The player you all saw in the last 24 games after coming off an ACL injury is not the player LaVine is. He will get a contract that averages much closer to 20mil a season, but not max though. It will be interesting to see what the Bulls do if he gets that crazy offer from one of those teams out there.

[BadWolf]

Read on Twitter

Why should it?

Go get yourself the best offer available, and let's go from there.

I don't see why it would be complicated.

I believe that the main point of dispute that may see the negotiations go south is fairly simply,
Lavine and his agent have a far different assessment of his talents than that of the rest of the league,
including the Bulls.

Lavine''s "sticker shock" is coming soon. The MARKET dictates his VALUE, and not
him, his or agent, the Bulls and certainly not fans on boards . When the market decides what he is worth, he will stop squirming and reality will set in, and he will have to sign a lower than hoped for offer, somewhere and prove it. It's called reality.

There's always a QO and try again next year, healthy and unrestricted.