Zach LaVine signed a five-year extension with the Bulls this summer. Now he's not happy.
“When you're not succesful on the court, it leads to this... I'm told the Bulls and Zach LaVine right now are just not seeing eye-to-eye."@ShamsCharania on the turmoil in Chicago
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) December 21, 2022
(via @FanDuelTV)pic.twitter.com/UYwTUSKJ1S
According to a report from Shams Charania, the Bulls have had "multiple team meetings" to work out the problems between LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. The organization is worried about the partnership between the two All-Star wings, despite LaVine having signed a five-year contract for $215 million before the season.
The tension came to a head Sunday in Minnesota, where the players had a loud disagreement in the locker room.
Sources indicated that there was a blowup between players at halftime of the Timberwolves loss, causing Bulls coaches to go into the locker room while they were talking outside. Source said it was the second time it happened. The other was right after a game.
— Joe Cowley (@JCowleyHoops) December 20, 2022
Joe Cowley wrote that the disagreement stemmed from "the constant defensive breakdowns during the previous five games and in that first half against the undermanned T-Wolves." Which is different from LaVine's contention that the Bulls' issues come from having two number-one options.
"We have those type of guys, those type of mentalities where each of us have been number-one options on a team before and then we all come together collectively," LaVine told The Athletic. "It’s not going to take one person. It’s going to take all of us as a unit."
The disconnect might come from the source of the report. Shams Charania is the reporter of choice for clients of Klutch Sports, a group which includes LaVine and himself. LaVine is the only Bulls player interviewed for the piece, while DeRozan's quotes come from a year earlier. The article quotes a source detailing "increased skepticism within the locker room about the head coach and the coaching staff." Shouldn't we assume that's LaVine's own skepticism?
Chicago has had problems due to the lingering knee problems of Lonzo Ball and LaVine's own recovery from offseason knee surgery. He hasn't been the same player, with his scoring, shooting and passing numbers all down. LaVine also clashed with head coach Billy Donovan, who upset his star by benching him down the stretch a month ago.
Zach LaVine was recently benched down the stretch by HC Billy Donovan.
— Bulls Nation (12-18) (@BullNationCHI) November 21, 2022
In the post-game press conference, LaVine showed his disapproval of the decision.#BullsNation
https://t.co/Dv4fjTuj8c
It's early for LaVine's relationship with the team to sour, especially 30 games into a new $215 million contract. Perhaps he's trying to get the Bulls to trade DeRozan, who is signed through next season. But for his part, LaVine denies being Charania's source.
Zach LaVine said the report about him and the Chicago Bulls not seeing eye-to-eye didn't come from him. "I feel good about the team."
— Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates) December 21, 2022
Zach: “If I had something to say about the team, it would come from my mouth. That didn't come from me."
(Via @DarnellMayberry)
It's hard to imagine who else it would come from, but either way, the Bulls are in a bad place with their max player.
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