Bulls Rumors: Zach LaVine, Billy Donovan Relationship Has 'Sailed'; CHI Sides With HC

The relationship between Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine and head coach Billy Donovan has "sailed," and the locker room has reportedly sided with the latter in this dispute.

That's according to David Kaplan on ESPN 1000's Kap & J. Hood radio show Thursday:

Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times previously reported on Jan. 8 that the relationship between Donovan and LaVine was "somewhat strained" after Donovan's decision to bench LaVine late in a 108-107 home loss to the Orlando Magic on Nov. 18:

"According to a source, while the LaVine-Billy Donovan player-coach relationship is still very workable it remains somewhat strained in the wake of a Nov. 18, late-game benching in which Donovan chose to ride out the final minutes against Orlando with LaVine out of the game."

LaVine expressed his displeasure with the decision postgame: "That's Billy's decision, he's gotta lay with it. Do I agree with it? No. I think I can go out there and still be me even if I miss some shots. That's his decision and he's got to stand on it."

LaVine told reporters two days later that he and Donovan were "all good," but now that reportedly isn't the case as the 26-28 Bulls sit ninth in the Eastern Conference.

LaVine was the subject of trade rumors right before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET deadline, with Cowley reporting that the Bulls were engaging with the New York Knicks. However, nothing came to fruition.

The Bulls are in a rock fight for a playoff spot right now with 28 regular-season games remaining. Three-and-a-half games and two teams sit between them and the sixth-place Miami Heat for a confirmed playoff spot.

However, the Bulls are just one game ahead of the Washington Wizards, who are the first team out of the play-in tournament picture right now.

So this is a tenuous spot for the Bulls as they hope to salvage what's been a disappointing season thus far after making the playoffs the year before.

If there are reported issues between LaVine and Donovan, then the two will have to manage to co-exist for the remainder of the season with the trade deadline now passed. LaVine is also notably locked in long term, as he's in the first year of a five-season, $215.2 million contract.

The 27-year-old averages 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists.