Agent Rich Paul responds to Zach LaVine’s slander originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
Presented by National Insurance Agent Jeff Vukovich
The entire NBA knows that the Chicago Bulls are shopping two-time All-Star guard Zach LaVine. It’s been a story for months, if not years.
And the longer it drags on, the potential for confusion increases. Fingers may be pointed. Charges may be filed. Leaks can affect the character.
It’s that dynamic that Rich Paul, LaVine’s agent and CEO of Klutch Sports Group, wanted to emphatically address on Thursday.
“I want to make this clear and clear: This whole idea that Zach was anything but professional in this situation is false. This guy played hurt. He represented the franchise with class. A lot happened during his time with the Bulls and he always followed the right path,” Paul said over the phone. “Does every player get frustrated sometimes? Yes. But Zach has been the best professional and deserves better.
“The Bulls have business to do. And we’re letting them go about their business.”
That deal has been on full display since July 2023. That’s when the Bulls held preliminary LaVine-centric trade talks with the Portland Trail Blazers when they still employed Damian Lillard and the Phildelphia 76ers when they still employed James Harden. Other trade rumors involving LaVine also surfaced at the time.
Just two years ago, LaVine’s relationship with the Bulls was in full bloom. In July 2022, he signed a five-year contract worth $215 million, fresh off his second All-Star nod and first playoff appearance — and the Bulls’ first since 2017.
The future seemed limitless and, in LaVine’s opinion, free from the distractions of trade rumors.
Instead, the Bulls endured two consecutive seasons outside of the playoffs. And when LaVine and the Bulls got off to a poor start to the 2023-24 season, The Athletic reported “there was more openness” from both sides about exploring a trade.
While this was the first time LaVine opened the door to a change of scenery, he never requested a trade. He was focused on overcoming his and the Bulls’ slow start to the season and trying to discover and treat pain in his right foot that required season-ending surgery.
“We went to them and said, ‘We understand the business of basketball. If we keep playing this way and you guys start looking to make changes, let’s work together,’” LaVine told NBC Sports Chicago midway through last season. “I never said I wanted to be traded.”
LaVine returned from his first extended absence due to a foot injury to help the Bulls go 5-2 in January. But the pain in my foot continued. LaVine and his representation sought outside medical opinions, which is common practice in the NBA.
When LaVine opted for season-ending surgery, the Bulls team’s official statement read: “After seeking additional medical opinion, in consultation with the Chicago Bulls coaching and medical staff, guard Zach LaVine and Klutch Sports Group elected surgery on LaVine’s right foot as the next step in his recovery process.”
That phrase, along with rumors that the Detroit Pistons were interested in trading for LaVine, created a false narrative that LaVine opted for surgery rather than join the rebuilding Pistons. Multiple league sources at the time indicated that the Pistons’ decision-makers were divided on the trade for LaVine and that the Bulls were not close to a deal.
Speaking to a small group of reporters in Los Angeles in March, LaVine addressed the narrative that he opted for surgery over a trade to the Pistons.
“You never want to have surgery. But I’ve come to a conclusion, especially with what the doctor told me, that the pain level and this stuff is not going to heal on its own,” LaVine said then. “It’s a bone that was floating. It’s known as a non-union Jones fracture, which I had been dealing with for a while. And once the doctor – I’m glad I was able to find him – told me you needed to do this as soon as possible, it was good to know.”
This is LaVine’s second time playing due to injury. In 2021-22, he played through a knee injury that required an arthroscopic procedure — in a contract year — as the franchise was heading for its first playoff berth since 2017. At that time, he consistently said he felt confident of that him playing at 80 percent can still help the team.
LaVine took a lot of arrows during his seven seasons with the Bulls, including serving professionally as the face of the franchise during a challenging rebuild from 2017-21. He’s also experienced many highs, both personally and with teammates like Coby White, whom he championed as the NBA’s Most Improved Player last season.
But for some time now, this relationship has felt like it was headed toward divorce. And the longer he stays with the Bulls, the more the potential for confusion increases.
“I think we have a great relationship with Zach, a great relationship with his representation in Rich Paul,” executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas said following the Bulls’ dormant trade deadline in February. “I think we always work together and I think his thoughts are always about the team. He’s trying to win. And he’s trying to win when he’s healthy.”
LaVine is healthy now. He beat his estimated four-to-six-month return from foot surgery in weeks and is following his typical offseason routine. It is not yet known where he will be playing next season.
By trading Josh Giddey to play alongside White, the Bulls appear poised to start a backcourt for the future. Mutual understanding between Bulls management and LaVine’s representation that a change of scenery is best for all parties seems the prudent course.
The Bulls have submitted more than 15 proposals to teams in recent weeks. League sources indicated that the Kings and Warriors showed the most interest, although in the latter case they have since made moves that likely signal another direction.
Interested teams will likely want an additional asset attached to take on LaVine’s three years, $138 million. The longer this situation takes to resolve, the less value the Bulls will be able to receive in return.
With the DeMar DeRozan situation also unresolved, the Bulls have a lot on their plate. In an offseason that Karnišovas said is dedicated to change, LaVine’s future is the biggest of all.
