Bulls All-Star reaffirms commitment to struggling franchise
Zach LaVine has been the subject of intense trade speculation this season. The Chicago Bulls' struggles have strengthened the belief that they will eventually hit the reset button on their current roster and enter a rebuild. LaVine is seen as a primary trade candidate if or when the Bulls decide to push ahead with a teardown.
However, LaVine, who has missed the last four games with an injury, is still committed to helping the Bulls reach their goals. The veteran wing spoke to reporters on Thursday and noted that he will be committed to the franchise for as long he's part of the team.
“Am I still a part of this team and very committed? Yeah," LaVine said. "I got a Bulls jersey on. I committed here. And for as long as I’ll be here, I’ll still support and love Chicago and go out there and play my heart out for those guys. That’s never going to change."
LaVine will undoubtedly generate trade interest trade deadline draws closer. His ability to operate as a primary, secondary, or tertiary scorer and playmaker will be enticing to teams who feel their offense needs a boost. However, his average salary of $43 million will be a tall order for teams to match, especially when LaVine likely won't be seen as a primary option.
Chicago is in a bind. Their roster is aging. It was built around the playmaking talents of Lonzo Ball. Tearing things down makes sense. However, the front office may need to accept that LaVine's contract versus production will lead to lower offers than what they would like to accept. There will have to be a significant amount of salary filler or another highly paid player who's struggling in their current environment.
Whatever happens leading up to the trade deadline, one thing is for certain, LaVine's time with the Bulls is coming to an end. How quickly we see that breakup occur, is the only thing that remains unclear.
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