After a quiet first six days of free agency, NBC Sports California has confirmed that the Sacramento Kings have signed restricted free agent Zach LaVine to a 4-year, $78 million offer sheet.
The Chicago Bulls, who extended a qualifying offer to the high-flyer, have 48 hours to decide whether to match or allow LaVine to head to Sacramento.
LaVine was in Sacramento on Thursday where he met with the team’s training staff and front office. He was cleared medically by the Kings after missing parts of the last two seasons with a torn ACL.
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While the addition complicates the Kings backcourt, LaVine is considered a top flight athlete with a tremendous upside. At 23 years old, he fits the player arc of the rest of the roster and he has the versatility to play minutes at the one, two or three.
According to a source, LaVine is excited about playing for Sacramento. He played in 24 games last season with Chicago after coming over from the Minnesota Timberwolves during the summer of 2017 in a trade for All-Star Jimmy Butler.
In 27.3 minutes per game last season for the Bulls, LaVine averaged 16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 34.1 percent from behind the arc.
If Chicago refuses to match, LaVine’s starting contract will eat most of Sacramento’s cap space for this season, but still leave them with enough space to sign a max level player in the summer of 2019.
