The Sacramento Kings had money to work with heading into free agency. This was already known. Though, most figured the long downtrodden franchise would use some of that cash to add a bad contract while picking up a first-round pick in next year’s draft.
That might ultimately end up happening. But for now, the Kings have committed to signing Chicago Bulls restricted free agent Zach LaVine to a four-year, $80 million offer sheet. Chicago will have 48 hours to match the offer.
RFA Zach LaVine has agreed to a four-year, $80M offer sheet with the Sacramento Kings, league sources tell Yahoo. The Chicago Bulls have 48 hours to match.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 6, 2018
That’s a whole lot of cash to pay for a player that played just 24 games last season after suffering a torn ACL when he was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2016-17.
LaVine, 23, averaged 16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the Bulls last season. Prior to going down to injury the year before, he was averaging a career-best 18.9 points per outing.
Should Chicago decide not to match the Kings’ offer, LaVine would likely find himself as the starting two-guard next to De’Aaron Fox in Sacramento.