By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The latest unrestricted free agent staying put is Zach LaVine.
Lavine, 27, has agreed to a $215 million dollar contract, as announced by Klutch Sports Group Friday, merely a few hours after the opening of the NBA free agency period. It is a five-year contract, including a player option for the 2026-27 season, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The explosive swingman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in late May. He is expected to be healthy to start the 2022-23 season. The troublesome knee forced him to miss 15 games of the 2021-22 Regular Season.
Coming out of UCLA in 2014, he was selected with the 13th overall pick in the NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Three years later, he was traded to the Bulls. Averaging 24.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game over 276 appearances for Chicago.
DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso are all under contract. The Montenegrin big man is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2022-23 season, while the remaining Bulls teammates’ respective contracts stretch past the next offseason.
Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas alongside GM Marc Eversley will be handling other potential moves looking to improve the squad. In 2021-22, the Bulls ranked sixth in the regular-season standings of the Eastern Conference but lasting only five games in the best-of-seven series fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the Playoffs.
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