There’s no denying Zach LaVine’s consistency. For the past few months, and with the prospect of being free in 2022, the rear of Chicago has kept the same speech regarding his next contract to be negotiated: to be paid on merit.
“I want what I deserve” he repeated again and again. So that a few months before the deadline, he has not changed his mind and still hopes to land a maximum contract.
“Free agency will be a great moment for me”he assures at Yahoo! Sports. “I’m excited about our season with Chicago. I think we have what we deserve in relation to our level and our team. I compare myself to everyone at this level. We’re going to let things happen. Is the maximum contract the objective? I don’t know, but I have to get what I deserve. “
And if this summer is crucial for Zach LaVine, it’s because he will truly have the choice of his next club, unlike 2018 when he signed in Sacramento before the Bulls aligned themselves with the Californians’ offer (78 million over four seasons) and keep it.
“It’s the first time I’ll be totally free,” specifies the former double winner of the dunks contest. “I had been protected last time, so it’s a new experience for me. I remember everything. I know that leaders have changed, that times have changed too. I’ll let my agent handle all of this. “
Four years ago, Zach LaVine and his agent had indeed negotiated with John Paxson and Gar Forman. The Bulls are now managed by Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley and they know the full-back will want to land a maximum contract, like Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell or Devin Booker in recent years.
| Zach LaVine | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2014-15 | MIN | 77 | 25 | 42.2 | 34.1 | 84.2 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 10.1 |
| 2015-16 | MIN | 82 | 28 | 45.2 | 38.9 | 79.3 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 14.0 |
| 2016-17 | MIN | 47 | 37 | 45.9 | 38.7 | 83.6 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 18.9 |
| 2017-18 | CHI | 24 | 27 | 38.3 | 34.1 | 81.3 | 0.4 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 16.7 |
| 2018-19 | CHI | 63 | 35 | 46.7 | 37.4 | 83.2 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 23.7 |
| 2019-20 | CHI | 60 | 35 | 45.0 | 38.0 | 80.2 | 0.7 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 25.5 |
| 2020-21 | CHI | 58 | 35 | 50.7 | 41.9 | 84.9 | 0.6 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 27.4 |
| 2021-22 | CHI | 47 | 35 | 48.2 | 39.9 | 86.9 | 0.3 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 24.6 |
| Total | 458 | 32 | 46.1 | 38.7 | 83.0 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 19.6 | |
