LaVine takes bull by the horns, insists he’s happy in Chicago

This has been shaping up as a dysfunctional mess of a season for the Bulls, who are trying to walk an unenviable tightrope between tanking for a high draft pick and developing a group of young players.

It might still be a disaster, but Monday's Media Day actually took a positive turn when Zach LaVine sat down at the microphone.

Without waiting for questions, LaVine took the bull by the horns, so to speak, and launched into a lengthy statement about how happy he is to be starting another season with the Bulls.

“I’m in a great situation, a great head space,” LaVine said at the Advocate Center. “I’m fully healthy right now, which I don’t take for granted. Anything negative (anyone) tries to pin (on) me — the organization, rumors, drama — whatever it is, I leave that in the past.”

LaVine shut down questions about what happened last season. To refresh the memory, it didn't go well. The Bulls started 5-14, while their energy level and body language during games was awful.

A trade rumor popped up on Shams Charania's X feed in mid-November, which doesn't happen by accident. The Bulls played even worse once the rumor arrived, then started a winning streak the very day LaVine left the lineup due to a foot injury.

There was plenty of circumstantial evidence to support the idea that LaVine wanted out of Chicago. It never happened, mostly because teams didn't want to take on his maximum contract, which still has $138 million and three years remaining.

So it's possible this was all part of the plan to rehabilitate LaVine's trade value. Time will tell, but Monday's speech was a relatively strong start to a low-expectations season.

“I had a conversation when I first committed to the Bulls and signed my deal here with Michael (Reinsdorf), with Jerry (Reinsdorf), AK (Arturas Karnisovas), the front office,” LaVine said. “The commitment they gave me, the respect they gave me; I’m going to continue to give them that same respect, not just the way I play, but with my professionalism. That won’t waver.”

Well, OK, if LaVine truly moved on from the trade controversy, that changes some things. He is a two-time all-star who once averaged 27.4 points in a season. If he's a willing part of the Bulls' future, it's easier to imagine an athletic, fast-paced team that could be fun to watch this season, maybe even slightly successful.

Newcomer Josh Giddey, who arrived from Oklahoma City in the trade for Alex Caruso, sounded ready to buy in.

“He’s a superstar in this league,” Giddey said of LaVine. “People forgot that. I’m super excited to play with him. I know how talented he is. We've spoke a fair bit already about ways we can play together and be effective together.”

How or why LaVine's attitude changed isn't clear, since he refused to address the past. Fifth-year coach Billy Donovan met with LaVine over the summer, which might have helped. Also maybe the realization that getting paid $43 million this season to play basketball in Chicago is a pretty solid life outcome.

“I have a beautiful wife and kids,” LaVine said. “There’s not a lot for me to be upset about or mad at. I’m in a good place. Especially now where I’m coming back into camp healthy. There’s really nothing for me to complain about.”

Here are a few more Media Day tidbits:

· Giddey is still recovering from an ankle injury suffered late in the Olympics, so he hasn't been working out with his new teammates and it sounds like he'll miss a few days of practice. The Australia native said he's “on the doorstep of playing” and would be on the court if this were the playoffs. But it's not, so better to give the ankle time to heal.

· Lonzo Ball, who hasn't played in a game since Jan. 14, 2022, due to three knee surgeries, has been playing in five-on-five games and plans to be available when the season begins Oct. 23. He's expecting a minutes restriction and to skip out back-to-back games.

“This is something that no one has really come back from,” Ball said of the cartilage replacement procedure. “I pretty much have a brand-new (left) knee.”

· Vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas stated an objective for this season, “We're here to win.”

If next year's first-round pick does not land in the top 10, it goes to San Antonio to complete the DeMar DeRozan trade from 2021. Of course, DeRozan is now in Sacramento after three strong years with the Bulls.

· The Bulls lack 3-point shooters, but have no shortage of point guards, between Coby White, Josh Giddey, Lonzo Ball and conceivably Zach LaVine, Ayo Dosunmu and Jevon Carter.

“Looking at the roster, we have a lot of guys, quite honestly, that need the ball in their hands,” coach Billy Donovan said. “And that are probably most effective when the ball is in their hands.”