Zach LaVine won't be ready for opener but excited to be with Bulls long
Zach LaVine February
Zach LaVine  created headlines during the Summer League in July when  he  said  he  planned to return from  his  February left ACL tear by the Oct. 19 season opener.
While declining to put a timeline on  LaVine 's return  executive vice president John Paxson said "that's a pretty safe bet" to rule  LaVine  out of that opener and reiterated the organization's conservative approach for its new centerpiece.
While pleased with his progress   LaVine  admitted doctors told  him   he 'd be sidelined a minimum of nine months  which would place  his  return to practice in early November at the earliest.  LaVine  said  he  won't change  his  style of play and is encouraged that  his  running and jumping stats are better than when  he  participated in the draft combine before  his  rookie season.
"I can't stand just sitting here "  LaVine  said. "But I'm working hard so when I get back I'm not going to have any constraints."
The Bulls have until Oct. 16 to sign  LaVine   22  to a long-term extension. Otherwise   he  becomes a restricted free agent next summer. Either way  general manager Gar Forman basically said the Bulls didn't trade Jimmy Butler to not re-sign LaVine.
"I want to be here for a long period of time "  LaVine  said. "If (an extension is) now or later  I know it's going to be done either way."
Zach LaVine  created headlines during the Summer League in July when  he  said  he  planned to return from  his  February left ACL tear by the Oct. 19 season opener.
While declining to put a timeline on  LaVine 's return  executive vice president John Paxson said "that's a pretty safe bet" to rule  LaVine  out of that opener and reiterated the organization's conservative approach for its new centerpiece.
While pleased with his progress   LaVine  admitted doctors told  him   he 'd be sidelined a minimum of nine months  which would place  his  return to practice in early November at the earliest.  LaVine  said  he  won't change  his  style of play and is encouraged that  his  running and jumping stats are better than when  he  participated in the draft combine before  his  rookie season.
"I can't stand just sitting here "  LaVine  said. "But I'm working hard so when I get back I'm not going to have any constraints."
The Bulls have until Oct. 16 to sign  LaVine   22  to a long-term extension. Otherwise   he  becomes a restricted free agent next summer. Either way  general manager Gar Forman basically said the Bulls didn't trade Jimmy Butler to not re-sign LaVine.
"I want to be here for a long period of time "  LaVine  said. "If (an extension is) now or later  I know it's going to be done either way."