Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Bulls locker room confrontation with Zach LaVine?
In December, several Bulls teammates had a "strong exchange" with LaVine, expressing frustration with him during a locker room confrontation. The incident highlighted tensions between LaVine and his teammates, with questions about whether his effort matched his max contract worth over $43 million per year.
Why are the Bulls struggling this season despite LaVine's max contract?
The Bulls are 10th in the Eastern Conference and on the fringe of playoff contention. LaVine got off to a slow start after knee surgery and had the locker room confrontation, while the core of LaVine, DeRozan, and Vucevic hasn't been able to win consistently without Lonzo Ball.
What baggage does Kyrie Irving bring that makes a trade risky?
Irving has a history of requesting trades from successful situations, breaking promises to re-sign with teams, refusing COVID vaccination which prevented him from playing in certain cities, and being suspended for sharing antisemitic content on social media. He's been a PR nightmare despite his on-court talent.
How much money does Kyrie Irving make compared to Zach LaVine?
Irving makes about $9 million less than LaVine per season. This salary difference would require the Bulls to include another player in any potential trade to make the contracts work.
Is Kyrie Irving under contract beyond this season?
No, Irving is a free agent at the end of this season. The Bulls would have to re-sign him to a new deal if they traded for him, adding another layer of risk to any potential trade.