Report: Relationship Between Zach LaVine, Bulls ‘Filled With Mistrust’

According to NBA reporter Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the relationship between Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls is “filled with mistrust.”

The Bulls and LaVine want to part ways. 

“An NBA insider told the Sun-Times on Tuesday that the relationship between LaVine and the team’s top brass is completely shattered and ‘filled with mistrust.’ LaVine and his representation at Klutch Sports feel like they were misled on possible trade destinations, and the Bulls thought LaVine ‘opting’ for season-ending right foot surgery when rehab on the injury was still on the table was a counterpunch thrown below the belt,” Cowley reported. 

LaVine played in only 25 games in 2023-24. He underwent season-ending right foot surgery in February.

A two-time All-Star, LaVine averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 45.2% from the field, 34.9% from beyond the arc and 85.4% from the free-throw line.

LaVine signed a five-year, $215 million contract with the Bulls in July 2022.

A UCLA product, LaVine has career averages of 20.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Bulls. He has a 216-364 record. 

A source told Hoops Wire that LaVine “would like” to get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. LaVine, LeBron James and Anthony Davis have the same agent (Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group). 

However, the Lakers are not expected to pursue a LaVine trade, sources said. LaVine’s trade value is essentially non-existent. He’s coming off surgery and has three years and $138 million left on his contract.

The Bulls are in rebuild mode and want to trade LaVine as soon as possible. However, they haven’t found a taker. 

According to NBA insiders Anthony Slater and Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Sacramento Kings would need to be “incentivized” to acquire LaVine from the Bulls due to his injury history and massive contract. 

“Zach LaVine has been rumored, and league sources confirm Sacramento has some level of interest, but he would arrive with a tricky contract situation,” Slater and Amick wrote. “LaVine has three years and $137.8 left on his current deal, a perhaps unpalatable number considering the Kings’ growing financial picture. Any deal on this front, league sources said, would likely involve the Kings needing to be incentivized to take on LaVine’s massive deal.”