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The Chicago Bulls will have the right to match any offers that come Zach LaVine's way this summer as he enters restricted free agency. Their willingness to retain him, however, doesn't appear to be as high as it once was.

The "near universal support" the 23-year-old guard had within the Bulls organization is no longer there, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell.

Chicago will take a patient approach with LaVine and see if he receives any lucrative offers. Then they'll make their decision on whether to match.

Can you provide a link?

Well at least we got Lauri for Butler.

Interesting if true...i'd be very happy for that...I don't want him for anymore than 18M per year....if its more let him go or try to work a sign and trade.

I'm very skeptical about LaVine's long term value, especially if he's a max player, but ideally we sign him to a reasonable contract and are able to move him for a draft pick or something. It'll stink to lose him for nothing, but I'd rather have that happen then max him out.

HomoSapien wrote:Can you provide a link?

I’m not sure how because it’s from the Score sports app under NBA news

Bulls got Garred.

Niko 2.0 situation. I agree its the right move. Sign him to a 1+1 deal or let him walk if its a crazy deal he finds.

Friedell said on 670 today that the Bulls offensive playbook has already shifted from featuring LaVine to featuring Lauri.
If that is actually true, no way in hell Bulls match a large offer for LaVine.

So they are giving him the same treatment they gave Niko. Again where are the teams that are going to give him this huge deal in free agency?

This is very encouraging news. With the teams that can pay Zach, I don't see an offer over $14M/year being proffered. Between this news and a solid draft, the summer is off to quite an auspicious start. So far, two thumbs up.

johnnyvann840 wrote:This is very encouraging news. With the teams that can pay Zach, I don't see and offer over $14M/year being proffered. Between this news and a solid draft, the summer is off to quite an auspicious start. So far, two thumbs up.

How low before Zach just takes the QO?

Give him the Rondo / Niko 2 year deal with a team option on the second year. Or 3 years with option after year 2. This keeps flexibility for free agency in 2019 and or 2020.

Nice. This is this best news this week.

randybrown wrote:Friedell said on 670 today that the Bulls offensive playbook has already shifted from featuring LaVine to featuring Lauri.
If that is actually true, no way in hell Bulls match a large offer for LaVine.

Why are they over reacting to a 24 game sample size in a year where he's still rehabbing his way back from an ACL tear?

I mean people were moaning yesterday for not taking the HIGH UPSIDE pick, but who on this team has more upside than Zach?

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.

So much for that super believable bulls will match a max offer report.

3years 45M 3rd year player option gonna be zach's best offer.

Dresden wrote: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.

I've felt for a long time that LaVine's most likely best case scenario is to be a Jamal Crawford-esque 6th man. He has the athleticism to be more than that, but I just don't see a star when I watch him play.

Keep it under 18M and Id sign him. Shame we don’t have more time to evaluate him. Curious if by not offering him right away he’ll find it insulting

KC said earlier today that the Bulls are bracing for an offer from a Western Conference team.