Most of any Bulls rumors concerning the team trying to trade star shooting guard Zach LaVine this summer have died down of late. Considering that the Bulls don’t look like they’ll want to dish out LaVine in the slightest this offseason, pitching trades for him just doesn’t make much sense.
But there is still some looming discussion concerning teams wanting to try and make a run at LaVine ahead of his potential unrestricted free agency next offseason. If the Bulls cannot sign LaVine to a contract extension this summer, he’ll become a free agent in 2022.
And according to a report from Joseph Zucker of Bleacher Report on July 19, the New York Knicks are a team interested in trying to pursue LaVine in free agency if he is available next summer. The Knicks are reportedly already saving up some cap space to either make a run at LaVine or the Washington Wizards star shooting guard Bradley Beal next offseason.
Both LaVine and Beal are likely set to command max contract-level money next offseason if either of them are to hit the open market. Even if they re-sign with their current respective teams, max contracts are in order for them.
Knicks stirring up Bulls rumors concerning Zach LaVine?
Moreover, this is a storyline that seemingly emerges each passing offseason that the Knicks are going to try to make a run at some legit star free agents the following summer. But they at least have a more promising direction this year under the direction of head coach Tom Thibodeau.
It also sounds like LaVine and the Bulls are going to try to make something work this summer. LaVine has a busy summer ahead of him with the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, starting later this week. But a sizable contract extension could be in the works for him before too long.
LaVine is looking to be the centerpiece for the Bulls’ building efforts and the newly acquired star center Nikola Vucevic. Getting him signed down to a contract extension will be key for the Bulls to have a successful budding core ahead of next offseason.
LaVine got his first career All-Star nod this year, and he looks to only elevate his game from here. He’ll have one year remaining on his current contract heading into next season, with an annual salary that pays him $19.5 million.