In the realm of basketball trade rumors, the Chicago Bulls have long been considering trading away star player Zach LaVine, with recent efforts ramping up in the past few months. However, the unexpected twist in this saga is that LaVine will now be returning to the team for the upcoming season.
“We expect Zach being fully healthy. And he is healthy. I think he can help this group next year. He’s been professional,” Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnišovas expressed, according to NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson.
Despite LaVine’s return, tensions seem to be simmering between the player and the Bulls’ front office and head coach Billy Donovan. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times even labeled LaVine’s return as a “worst-case scenario.”
With key players like DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso making way for newcomers Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey, the Bulls seem to be in a rebuilding phase. However, there are hints that Chicago may not be aiming for immediate competitiveness in the upcoming season. On the bright side, the Bulls are set to receive a lottery-protected first-round pick from the Portland Trail Blazers next summer, giving them little reason to intentionally tank.
The decision not to retain DeRozan may seem perplexing to some, but perhaps what the Bulls truly needed was a shake-up of their core roster. A shift towards a youth movement could still be on the horizon for the team. Despite having a roster filled with talent, the Bulls have been plagued by injuries in recent seasons.
Defensively, the Bulls have also faced challenges, particularly with the trio of DeRozan, LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic struggling to prevent opponents from scoring.
As the Bulls navigate through this tumultuous period, the return of LaVine adds a layer of uncertainty to their future plans. Only time will tell how this chapter in the Chicago Bulls’ history will unfold.
