Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

The Chicago Bulls will soon have to show their true colors

By Luke Askew

SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 5: Zach Lavine #8 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 5, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 5: Zach Lavine #8 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 5, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Chicago Bulls have had a quiet free agency so far, but the Zach LaVine situation is going to soon force them to show their true colors.

The summer of Zach LaVine is progressing rather slowly for the Chicago Bulls. He remains a restricted free agent but with teams like the Sacramento Kings looming, the Bulls are soon going to have to make a decision.

Per Adrian Wojnarowski, the Sacramento Kings are suitors for the young guard. It makes sense. Why wouldn’t the Kings give him big-time money? They have a young, talented frontcourt (Marvin Bagley III and Harry Giles) as well as a gifted, young point guard in De’Aaron Fox.

While Fox and Bagley are surely the cornerstone pieces for that franchise going forward, LaVine would provide them with some real upside as a potential third scorer. Plus, if his injuries end up being too big of a deal, they won’t be losing all that much. They already have their top two guys.

It remains unclear how much the Bulls are willing to spend to keep LaVine around. Despite being a huge piece in the Jimmy Butler trade, it appears as though they may be willing to move on.

LaVine had a rocky return to the court after recovering from knee surgery. During the 2017-18 season, LaVine played in only 24 games and averaged 16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game on a rough 38.3 percent shooting from the field. Despite being extremely inconsistent and making the entire Chicago Bulls fanbase nervous about his future, he still managed to show what he was capable of.

On February 9th against the Minnesota Timberwolves, LaVine had the best game of his career, in my opinion. He scored 35 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 2 steals. The most impressive part of this game, however, was his ability to deliver down the stretch in clutch time when the Bulls needed it most. He scored 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter.

The Bulls ended up winning the game by 1 point (114-113) and LaVine showed everyone that he still has the ability to make tough shots – shots that only a handful of guys in the league are capable of making.

While the Bulls have had the luxury of being relatively quiet in free agency thus far, they’ll soon be forced to show their true colors. How much money is too much for LaVine in their eyes? The speculation will soon be laid to rest.

Next: Is Jabari Parker a good fit on the Bulls?

All I know right now regarding Zach LaVine is that I’m going to be sick to my stomach if the Bulls let him walk. The talent is there – he just needs more time.