Chicago Bulls: 3 reasons Zach LaVine’s contract is a good deal

The Chicago Bulls are rolling the dice by re-signing Zach LaVine to a big contract. Here’s why that move will pay off in the long run.

Contrary to 2017, the “Year of the Breakdown,” the Chicago Bulls were quiet this offseason. The front office spent more time twiddling coins between its fingers, fantasizing about its massive cap space.

The only true decision of significance was what to do about Zach LaVine. When the Bulls acquired the shooting guard in a 2017 draft-day blockbuster deal for Jimmy Butler, some believed his only purpose was to help relieve Chicago of cap space.

The once electrifying guard was fresh of an ACL tear, primed to miss half the season before being dumpable. He was the theoretical perfect chip for a rebuilding squad. LaVine could help get Butler off the Bulls’ payroll, not help them avoid the lottery, then free up cap space by signing with another team.

Then something somewhat unexpected happened. The 23-year-old played really well, excelling in head coach Fred Hoiberg’s up-tempo offense. He blitzed passed defenders in the open floor and in an offense centered around him, LaVine averaged career highs 22.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per 36 minutes played.

During a mid-winter stretch, the supposedly tanking Bulls looked serviceable before shutting down LaVine, which is why it’s a bit stunning that pundits puzzled over the Bulls’ decision to match his offer sheet from the Kings.

Here are three reasons why LaVine’s four-year, $78 million contact is a good deal for Chicago.