Zach LaVine on Free Agency, Max Contract: 'I See Myself Being an Elite Player'

Heading into restricted free agency this offseason, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine hopes to put himself in line for a maximum contract. 

Per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, LaVine addressed what he hopes to get out of his next deal. 

"You are what you're worth," he said. "Obviously, you can't say no to getting [a max contract]. I see myself being an elite player in this league. I'm going to work for that every day until I get there."

LaVine did note he's not expecting a tense and difficult negotiation with the Bulls when the two sides meet to discuss his contract. 

"The agency and front office, they're both trying to get the better of each (other), but I think this situation is a little bit different because there's mutual respect on both sides and understanding," he said. "There's no bad blood between us, so I think everything will go smoothly."

The Bulls acquired LaVine from the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the Jimmy Butler trade last June. He missed the first 42 games this season rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered in Feb. 2017 with the Timberwolves. 

LaVine can receive a qualifying offer of $4.43 million this offseason, per Spotrac. He leads the Bulls with 16.7 points per game, but he is shooting a career-low 38.3 percent from the field and is currently sidelined with tendinitis in his surgically-repaired left knee.