(670 The Score) Coming off his first All-Star season, Bulls guard Zach LaVine is eligible for a contract extension this offseason.
That possibility looms as LaVine is under contract for $19.5 million in 2021-’22, the final season of his deal. And while the Bulls seemingly invested in LaVine when they acquired All-Star center Nikola Vucevic in late March in a high-profile trade, it would be at least a mild surprise if they reached a long-term extension with him this summer.
That’s for a couple main reasons. First, the Bulls would be limited in fortifying the rest of their roster if they were to allocate the cap space needed to give LaVine the significant raise he’ll command on his next contract. And after going 31-41 and missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year, the Bulls have plenty of holes they need to fill.
Beyond that, LaVine sounds like a man more interested in signing a lucrative contract in summer 2022 than this offseason, as he can command more money in another year due to collective bargaining agreement rules.
“I try to let my performance on the court dictate what I get paid,” LaVine said Monday, a day after the Bulls' season ended. “I think that's what everybody wants – to get paid what they're worth. When my time comes, I definitely will get that. I think with different situations, different people taking less money or taking the max, it's a business at the end of the day. I definitely want what I deserve and whatever that is, I'll have it coming to me.”
To get an extension done this offseason, the Bulls would need to renegotiate LaVine’s current contract so that his 2021-’22 payday is higher, which would allow a higher starting point on his next deal. Because without renegotiating his current contract, LaVine is only eligible for a four-year extension worth around $105 million this summer, as detailed by Ryan Borja of Bullsconf.com. The Bulls could reasonably open up enough cap space to offer a four-year extension worth around $152 million this offseason, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report has detailed previously.
While that would represent a massive payday, if LaVine hits unrestricted free agency in summer 2022, his maximum contract would be a five-year deal that starts at 30% of the salary cap. While the total figure isn’t set in stone without salary cap clarity then, the value would be around $190 million or perhaps a little more, according to estimates.
LaVine, 26, is coming off a sensational season in which he emerged as one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA, setting career-high marks of 27.4 points, 4.9 assists, 50.7% field-goal shooting and 41.9% 3-point shooting. For his part, he wants to remain in Chicago.
“It's something we're going to have to talk about going forward,” LaVine said of his next contract. “Obviously with the (Vucevic) trade, it made us a lot better. And I loved it. I love it here in Chicago. And I think everybody understands the business of basketball and anything can happen, trades like that, but for me personally, I let that stuff handle when it comes by. I don't think too far into the future about it. I don’t stress about it either. I try to let my game do the talking for me but also try to worry about the things I haven't accomplished yet, like winning. This year was great but also frustrating at the same time. A lot of bright spots ahead, so I'm very excited for the future.”
Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has already talked with LaVine about what’s next from a basketball perspective. It’s only a matter of time before he engages LaVine’s camp about his next contract.
“Everything is going to go day-by-day,” Karnisovas said when asked about the possibility of extending LaVine this summer. “Obviously, we’re looking forward to talking to Zach in the future. I think looking at his numbers and how well he played this year, he improved in points, field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage, free-throw percentage, assists, rebounds. He was a much better player this year. Again, we sat down with Zach and talked about this summer. Because we’re going to ask players to do more. Because obviously the results are telling us it’s not good enough. And he’s looking forward to the challenge. So we had those conversations.”
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.