Zach LaVine on Bulls Not Extending His Contract: 'It's Business'

All-Star guard Zach LaVine suggested Friday he isn't taking it personally the Chicago Bulls decided not to offer him an extension this offseason with his contract set to expire at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.

Speaking to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, LaVine called it a "business" decision and noted he has no shortage of motivation to thrive on the court during the upcoming campaign:

After Chicago acquired LaVine from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017, the Bulls matched the four-year, $78 million offer sheet the Sacramento Kings signed him to in 2018.

While LaVine, who will make $19.5 million during the upcoming season, said there were no hard feelings about an extension not getting done yet, Goodwill pressed him about having a chip on his shoulder, and LaVine admitted "it grows every year."

The 26-year-old reached new levels of production last season, averaging career highs across the board with 27.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 3.4 three-pointers made per game.

He also shot a career-best 50.7 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from beyond the arc, making him one of the NBA's best and most efficient scorers.

LaVine was also part of the United States men's basketball team that won gold at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Despite that, the Bulls have not made signing him to an extension a priority, opting instead to acquire guards DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball in separate sign-and-trade deals.

Now, the Bulls have a potential starting lineup of LaVine, DeRozan, Ball, All-Star center Nikola Vucevic and second-year man Patrick Williams with the likes of Coby White, Alex Caruso and Derrick Jones Jr. coming off the bench.

That should be enough to place them squarely in playoff contention in the Eastern Conference after missing the postseason the past four years. But things may get complicated after that if they're unwilling or unable to lock up LaVine.