Tensions are growing between the Chicago Bulls and star Zach Lavine.
The two parties haven't seen eye-to-eye recently, and a disconnect has formed between parts of the franchise regarding the guard's situation with the team, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania and Darnell Mayberry.
LaVine is also reportedly struggling to mesh with co-star DeMar DeRozan on the court despite multiple one-on-one meetings and their positive personal relationship.
Their clashing styles on the court are compounding complications between LaVine and the Bulls, who are currently out of the play-in picture at 11-18 and have lost four straight.
"There's a certain level of frustration in people trying to figure out what we can do to help right the ship," LaVine told Charania and Mayberry. "I think with the players that we have, we try to put it on each other to right the ship.
"We have those type of guys, those type of mentalities where each of us have been No. 1 options on a team before, and then we all come together collectively. It's not going to take one person. It's going to take all of us as a unit. I think that's what guys are trying to figure out: how to help the group."
Chicago added DeRozan on a three-year, $85-million deal in the summer of 2021 through a sign-and-trade with the San Antonio Spurs. The veteran wing worked well with LaVine last season - they averaged 27.9 and 24.4 points, respectively, as the Bulls finished sixth in the East with a 46-36 record. However, the Milwaukee Bucks eliminated Chicago in five games in the first round as LaVine dealt with a persistent knee issue that required offseason surgery.
Over the summer, LaVine re-signed with Chicago on a five-year, $215-million max deal and is under contract through the 2026-27 season. DeRozan will be eligible to test free agency again in 2024.
