Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine knows there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding his future with the franchise. After all, the front office did try to trade the two-time All-Star to the Detroit Pistons in the days leading up to the trade deadline in early February. But for now, as LaVine continues to recover from foot surgery and remains a member of the Bulls, he’s determined to make the most of his time with the team.
Used to it by now
Ever since LaVine’s representatives informed the Bulls’ front office of their openness to playing somewhere else, the rumor mill has not stopped churning out potential destinations for the 28-year-old. However, a season-ending foot surgery stopped all that in February. However, it’s expected to get rolling again once LaVine gets back to full health around training camp in October.
On Saturday, LaVine made his first public appearance since the surgery and shared he’s no longer bothered by persistent rumors about a potential trade.
“There’s a lot of things that don’t bug me. My name has been circulating around more than once from the beginning of my career to now. If I let people’s opinions bug me or influence me, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. So I go out there and keep doing me. Haven’t really talked to anybody, but we’ll continue to push forward,” LaVine said.
Eyes on the present
LaVine asserted that for as long as he remains on the team, he will always be committed to the cause.
“My main objective is to help the guys play and be myself out there. When I’m on the court, I know I make an impact most of the time offensively, but defensively as well,” LaVine added.
It remains to be seen how LaVine will look once he returns to the floor, especially after a disjointed season wherein he played in only 25 games and averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Without him in the lineup, the Bulls have found ways to compensate, mainly relying on Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, as well as veterans DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic.
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