It hasn’t always been a happy marriage between Zach LaVine and the Bulls, but it seems like both parties are going to really try and make it work.
At least for now.
It has been long-rumored that the Bulls are looking to offload LaVine and his huge contract, but other teams aren’t willing to take him without additional compensation.
But it looks as though LaVine is trying to bury the hatchet and has been “a willing participant in team activities, according to team sources”, The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry.
Last month, he joined his teammates in Miami for a player-organized minicamp, where he was happy to join in playing pick-up games.
Earlier this month, he again made the effort with the team for the sake of building chemistry.
“LaVine reported to Chicago earlier this month, along with the majority of the Bulls roster,” Mayberry said. “An unofficial second minicamp ensued inside the Advocate Center. LaVine didn’t have to report until next week, when training camp opens Tuesday, but he again displayed his intention to buy in to what the new-look Bulls are doing.”
As well as making a big effort to build rapport with his teammates, the guard is also working to repair his fractured relationship with coach Billy Donovan.
The Bulls are definitely a team with a lot of young talent and LaVine will be one of the few players on the roster in their late 20s and early 30s – along with Nikola Vucevic, Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig.
No doubt Josh Giddey will be a leader on offense and Mayberry says Zach won’t get in the way of him, or any of the up-and-comers for that matter.
“…in offseason conversations with Bulls leadership, including coach Billy Donovan, LaVine has vowed not to overstep or stunt the development of younger players, according to a team source,” Mayberry said.