LaVine ‘happy’ with Bulls; Ball eyes season opener

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Zach LaVine insisted he is healthy and ready to do whatever the Chicago Bulls ask of him this season. Above all, he’s ready to put the drama in the past.
The two-time All-Star said all that during about a three-minute statement, before he even fielded a question at the team’s media day on Monday.
“I’m in a great situation, a great headspace,” LaVine said. “I’m fully healthy right now, which I don’t take for granted. Anything negative that will try to pin me and the organization –- rumors, drama, whatever it is -– I leave that in the past. I’m focusing a lot on this camp right now, going forward on this team and helping, learning, and just having a good time.”
LaVine’s future in Chicago remains a huge question. He was mentioned in trade rumors prior to last season’s deadline, but dealing him is easier said than done.
Start with the fact that the 29-year-old LaVine is in the middle of a five-year, $215.16 million contract extension he signed after 2021-22 season. Then, throw in the fact that he played in just 25 games last year before having season-ending foot surgery in early February.

That squashed any chance Chicago had of trading him prior to last season’s deadline. The Bulls finished 39-43 and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.
The Bulls traded away their best perimeter defender in June when they dealt Alex Caruso to Oklahoma City for play-making guard Josh Giddey. In July, six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan went to Sacramento in a three-team sign-and-trade deal. LaVine, meanwhile, remained in Chicago.