Klutch Sports blamed for planting tiff rumors around Zach Lavine and the Chicago Bulls
Rich Paul and Zach LaVine
© Mitchell Leff and Kamil Krzaczynski - USA TODAY Sports
Zach LaVine has been the talk of rumor town. Reports reveal that the swingman isn’t happy being the second fiddle to DeMar DeRozan in Chicago. Bulls fans felt as if they were sucker-punched when LaVine admitted that he’s always been a big fan of the Los Angeles Lakers. A recent report reveals that such rumors were manufactured by LaVine’s camp, specifically Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports.
Planting rumors
LaVine will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He’ll be free to sign with any team he wants. The ideal scenario for Bulls fans is for the dunk champion to stay in the Windy City. Despite failing to make a deep run in the playoffs, the Bulls hold a lot of potential. They just need time to mature and develop together.
These dreams were suddenly slapped to the ground when rumors started mushrooming around that LaVine wants out. He reportedly wants to be the first option, and so he wants to go to LA.
This does not make a lot of sense because with the Purple and Gold, he’ll go down the line as the third option behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. It’s a puzzling rumor but supports LaVine’s statement that he wants to explore his options in free agency.
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“I plan to enjoy free agency with what it is as a whole. I think you’re going to have to experience A-Z without making any fast decisions. I think that’s something that me and (agent) Rich (Paul) get to go through and experience,” LaVine said, per NBC Sports.
A source has revealed that Klutch Sports has created a ploy around LaVine’s admission. Paul wants to put some pressure on the Bulls so that the swingman could get his money bag and enter the limelight.
“A lot of this is coming from the agents, where they want to not only get him paid but raise his profile at the same time. That is their M.O. The more drama in the process, the better. No one was talking about Zach. Now everyone is. Mission accomplished,” a source said, per Heavy.
Building hype
Ample evidence has to be dug up if this is true or not. But we do have historical proof that Klutch Sports isn’t just a sports agency. They’re marketing gurus who changed the league’s landscape with LeBron’s “The Decision” in 2010. They have become masters of the dark arts.
We can lambast the show all we want. But it gave players unprecedented control over their careers — a bargaining power only a few had before The Decision. It also added a ton of value to free agency signings and trade transactions. Every front office move gained media coverage. And with more media coverage, there’s more hype. When there’s more hype, there’s more money to be made.
Whatever the case may be, it will definitely be an exciting offseason for LaVine and the Bulls. Let’s forget about such rumors for a while and remember LaVine’s own admission that he wants to explore free agency. Teams such as the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers have entered the grapevine. Let’s see how much the Bulls really value LaVine.
