Zach LaVine was asked if his strong performance in the Chicago Bulls victory over the Detroit Pistons meant he was feeling like himself again. LaVine confirmed that he was, but that feeling good didn't start with Friday night's win.

“I’ve been for a while,” LaVine said. “Go look at my last 10, 15 games. I’ve been saying that. I’ve been feeling good.”

In 14 December games, LaVine has produced at an All-Star level. He's averaged 25.2 points on 53% shooting, including 43.2% from behind the arc, while also adding 4.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan agreed with LaVine's assessment that he's played well for a while now.

“If you look at his numbers from the middle of October and then you start to look at the middle of November and then the middle of (December), I think you start to see a trend upward as he’s gotten his legs under him,” Donovan said.

“I give him a lot of credit of just sticking with the process of just continuing to work. Because I think when you’re as elite as him offensively and you start the year off the way he did offensively and just trying to find himself, he’s put a lot of work into it just to stay the course.”

Zach LaVine re-signed with the Chicago Bulls this past offseason on a five-year, $215 million, but his future with the franchise is uncertain given their struggles this season. The Dallas Mavericks are a team who could potentially have interest in LaVine given their motivation to pair a second star with Luka Doncic.

"I just know that there are fans of him that hold prominent positions within the Mavericks," said Tim MacMahon on the Lowe Post podcast. "Again, I'm not sitting here and telling you there's some great consensus. I think there's enough fans of him where I wouldn't totally rule it out."

Zach Lowe interjected that the Bulls do not appear prepared to entertain trading LaVine at this point. The trade value of LaVine given his contract and injury issues is also difficult to gauge.

DeMar DeRozan could request a trade from the Chicago Bulls this offseason, rival executives tell Bleacher Report.

DeRozan has one season remaining on his deal and playing on an expiring contract if an extension isn't reached could be untenable for him. DeRozan joined the Bulls on a three-year, $82 million sign-and-trade during the 2021 offseason.

The Bulls are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference and there have been reports of on-court chemistry issues between DeRozan and Zach LaVine.

The Chicago Bulls' half-time dispute against the Minnesota Timberwolves last Sunday revolved around Zach LaVine's defense, sources told Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Bulls would lose the game 150-126.

There were reportedly several "blow-ups" during half-time, with Billy Donovan having to come into the locker room to calm down the players.

Donovan confirmed that there was an incident before Wednesday's game against the Heat.

Cowley adds that while LaVine's name was not specifically called out during the dispute, much of the criticism was directed at him.

The Athletic reported earlier in the day that LaVine and DeMar DeRozan have been navigating an on-court disconnect throughout the season. 

The Chicago Bulls are struggling on the court and are also dealing with a disconnect between Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.

The Bulls have held multiple team meetings and also one-on-one, face-to-face sit-downs between LaVine and DeRozan. The two players maintain a good personal relationship with the issues being on the floor.

Their meetings have not led to improved in-game results for the Bulls.

“I think everybody goes through ups and downs, just like every team does,” LaVine told The Athletic on Tuesday when asked about the matter. “Obviously if we’re not winning games, not everybody’s going to be happy. It’s not going to look as good as it was before. It’s all glitter and show when you’re winning games. But when you’re losing games and you’re trying to do the same things it’s turmoil. Everybody has their right to their own opinion. For me, I keep my head down. I work on my game and try to help my team. I help try to lead the team. That’s where I stand. I just try to take it day by day and evaluate how we’re doing.”

LaVine and the Bulls have also had a larger disconnect across various parts of the franchise. LaVine re-signed with the Bulls this past offseason on a five-year, $215 million max deal.

“There’s a certain level of frustration in people trying to figure out what we can do to help right the ship,” LaVine told The Athletic. “I think with the players that we have, we try to put it on each other to right the ship. We have those type of guys, those type of mentalities where each of us have been number one options on a team before and then we all come together collectively. It’s not going to take one person. It’s going to take all of us as a unit. I think that’s what guys are trying to figure out how to help the group.”

The Chicago Bulls were blown out by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. It was the Bulls fourth straight loss and dropped Chicago to 11-18 on the season.

Bulls guard Zach LaVine echoed the fans frustration with the losing. Then he took it a step further.

“It’s frustrating for all of us,” LaVine said. “I know it’s frustrating for the fans. It’s embarrassing. We’re all a little embarrassed about it.”

Veteran guard Goran Dragic said that the Bulls don't play for each other. LaVine agreed with that sentiment.

“You can name whatever you want to. We’re just not getting it done as a unit,” LaVine said. “And until we band together and start helping each other, you’re not going to see a different result. I think that’s the first thing you have to bring. You can’t ask your team for effort each and every night. I think that’s the first thing you have to bring top to bottom. Guys in here are talking. We’re trying to be leaders in our own way, but we’ve got to find a way to get it done.”

Lonzo Ball is making progress towards being able to run, according to Billy Donovan. 

Donovan added that there is still no timetable for Ball to be cleared to run.

“We haven’t had anything that’s been like, ‘Oh, geez, we’re back at square one.’ It’s just slow unfortunately. It’s just managing the pain and discomfort he’s feeling," said Donovan.

Once Ball gets cleared, he will then have a "significant ramp-up period" for conditioning.

Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week that there are "no guarantees" that Ball suits up for the Bulls this season. 

The Chicago Bulls have signed Carlik Jones to a Two-Way contract and waived Kostas Antetokounmpo. 

Jones was with the Bulls for training camp this season.

Antetokounmpo had yet to appear in a game with the Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls and Nikola Vucevic are not currently discussing a contract extension.

Vucevic is on an expiring contract.

The two sides never had any truly significant talks on an extension.

The Bulls acquired Vucevic in 2021 for Wendell Carter Jr. and two first round picks.

The Los Angeles Lakers seemingly have a rather long wish list of potential trade targets. Another name that can be added to that list is Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls are struggling and there are rumors they might be considering shaking up their roster. If so, LaVine might fetch the biggest possible return. The 27-year-old guard is signed through 2026-27, which means any team acquiring LaVine would have him long-term.

LaVine is the sort of player that could get the Lakers to part with two future unprotected first-round picks. To this point, Los Angeles has been reluctant to offer both of their tradable first rounders in deals.