A Royal Pain
Fansided

Sacramento Kings saved as Chicago Bulls match Zach LaVine offer sheet

By Tyler Watts

SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 5: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 5, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 5: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 5, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Sacramento Kings made an aggressive offer to restricted free agent Zach LaVine, but the Chicago Bulls matched and retained his services.

The Sacramento Kings are rebuilding, but looking to take a step forward next season.  The team believes they have built a solid young core.  With De’Aaron Fox manning the point flanked by wings Bogdan Bogdanovic and Buddy Hield and a frontcourt of Willie Cauley-Stein, Harry Giles, and rookie Marvin Bagley III, Sacramento is trending upward.  They were hoping to make a big splash in free agency to kick-start their victories.  Snapping the NBA’s longest playoff drought is important to their front office.

The Kings are one of very few teams with cap space available, so they decided to take a homerun shot on Zach LaVine.  Sacramento offered LaVine nearly $20 million per season, and on July 6 he signed an offer sheet with the Kings.  LaVine is a restricted free agent, so the Chicago Bulls had the right to match.  The decision did not take long.  Here is Adrian Wojnarowski’s Tweet breaking the news.

Bulls saved Sacramento

Kings fans should be ecstatic that the Bulls are matching the offer sheet.  LaVine is still 23 years old with four years of NBA experience and has proven to an above NBA average scorer and 3-point shooter.  The problem is LaVine is a poor defender.  The Kings have been a bad defensive team in recent seasons and adding another minus on the defensive end would make winning difficult.

Must Read: Kings 2018 NBA Draft grades

Look at all the teams having success in the league, they all play good defense.  Sacramento needs to invest at that end of the floor.  The LaVine signing would have continued a trend of targeting skilled offensive, but poor defensive players.  It started with Buddy Hield in the DeMarcus Cousins trade.  Marvin Bagley III has that reputation coming out of college.  The Kings love to target these type of players, but it has not led to wins on the court.  Thankful Chicago saved them on Zach LaVine.

Final thoughts

The Chicago Bulls matched the Sacramento Kings massive offer on Zach LaVine and will retain him next season.  The Kings still have cap space available, but the free agent market is drying up quickly.  It will be interesting to see if the Sacramento front office targets Jabari Parker or goes for veterans on short-term deals to preserve that cap space in upcoming seasons.  Stay tuned for all the news and analysis this offseason.

Next: Re-grading the last 5 Kings drafts

A Royal Pain provides all the content that Sacramento Kings fans desire to read all year long.  Please check back with us often to stay tuned in on everything you need to know.  Thank you for reading.

Home/Kings News