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Getty Images Zach LaVine
The NBA draft is over for the Chicago Bulls after the team drafted Arizona wing Dalen Terry with the 18th overall pick Thursday night. With the draft now in hand, the Bulls will turn their full attention to the next agenda item, free agency, which begins June 30.
Once free agency begins, the Bulls will look to re-sign two-time All-Star Zach LaVine. Chicago can offer LaVine a five-year contract for $212 million, while other teams can offer him a four-year deal worth $157 million.
A number of teams will reportedly be vying for LaVine’s services on June 30, including the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs. However, the latest reports suggest the Bulls are the favorites to keep LaVine.
Bulls are prepared
On Thursday night, Bulls general manager Marc Eversley held a post-draft media session in which he discussed the team’s selection of Terry. Eversley also discussed trying to re-sign LaVine.
“I think we’re willing to do whatever it takes to bring Zach back into the herd and be a Chicago Bulls,” Eversley said, “and we look forward to sitting down with Zach and Rich Paul again and about the.” Talking about what the future could look like with the Chicago Bulls.”
Afterward, Eversley was asked if he thinks LaVine will go through the free agency process and/or have a quick fix, to which he said, “I don’t know.” While Eversley didn’t offer much insight with his answers, it’s heartening for Bulls fans to hear that the team is willing to do whatever it takes to keep LaVine.
other business
If the Bulls can re-sign LaVine, the team will look for other ways to improve the roster around the core. Chicago emerged in reports of interest in veteran wings like Nicolas Batum and PJ Tucker.
Both are players who could help the Bulls both on the pitch and in the dressing room. Both players could also be affordable for a Bulls team that doesn’t look like they have a lot of cap space if they re-sign LaVine for a max deal.
Also, the rumors of a deal with jazz center Rudy Gobert are still out there as free agency approaches. If the bulls made a trade, it would likely center on Nikola Vucevic and Coby White heading to Utah, but it’s unclear what else the Jazz would want.
The bulls remained unwilling to put Patrick Williams in any trade. Only time will tell if this ultimately results in a deal falling between the two teams.
Another concern for the Bulls this summer is trying to get Lonzo Ball back to health after missing the second half of the season with a knee injury. Ball attempted to begin his return process in March but was never able to speed up his rehab enough to return.
On Thursday night, Eversly said Ball trains in Los Angeles and the Bulls’ performance staff has gone out to see him every week. He added that all reports were good and that Ball had made progress, but when asked if he was ready for training camp, Eversley said: “I certainly hope so”.
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