Zach LaVine has possibly played his last game with the Bulls, per @KCJHoop. The #Bulls could be ‘protecting their asset’ by having LaVine sit until the trade deadline.
Conventional NBA wisdom suggests that Zach LaVine could be leaving the Chicago Bulls very soon. Most reports say that LaVine will be departing from Chicago soon, although his new destination isn't known yet.
Speaking with the Chicago Sun Times, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan revealed that he hasn't talked to LaVine about possibly leaving the team and has solely focused on injuries, coaching, and helping the Bulls win.
‘‘I haven’t talked to him about anything with the rumor piece of it,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘I would just guess that with him being in the league for 10 years that these things would kind of happen. My talks with him have been more centered around his frustration with being out.’’
LaVine hasn't been with the Bulls in some time and has missed 21 of the last 28 games because of an ankle injury. He last played on January 18 against the Toronto Raptors and scored just 8 points in 24 minutes.
The Bulls have survived without LaVine, going 12-9 in his absence, but they would love to have him back. However, with the February 8 trade deadline quickly approaching, there is a good chance he has played his last game with the Bulls.
For a moment, it sounded like the Los Angeles Lakers were going to take a run at LaVine but plans for that fell apart. More recently, there were rumors of the Bulls making a deal with the Detroit Pistons but that also doesn't seem to be headed anywhere.
Does that mean LaVine will be back with the Bulls after he has healed and after the trade deadline?