Report: Bulls extend qualifying offer to LaVine
The Chicago Bulls have reportedly extended a qualifying offer to starting guard Zach LaVine on Thursday, making him a restricted free agent, according NBC Sports' Vincent Goodwill.
LaVine's qualifying offer is worth $4.3 million and he can sign it if teams choose to pass on handing the two-time dunk champion a long-term contract after a down year last season due to injury troubles. If he chooses to go that route, he will become an unrestricted free agent in 2019.
The Bulls were initially all in on retaining LaVine, but "near universal support" for him has wavered, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell. It's a possibility that if LaVine signs an offer sheet that Chicago views too steep, the team will part ways with the guard.
LaVine suffered a season-ending ACL tear in 2017 when he was still a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was dealt to the Bulls as part of the Jimmy Butler deal, along with Kris Dunn and the No. 7 pick in 2017 (where Lauri Markkanen was selected).
The 23-year-old missed the first 42 games of the season and appeared in just 24 contests, averaging 16.7 points, 3.9 boards, and three assists in 27.3 minutes.