NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 most puzzling contract decisions

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 13: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls moves against Sindarius Thornwell #0 of the LA Clippers at the United Center on March 13, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTE, NC – FEBRUARY 27: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball against the Charlotte Hornets on February 27, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls — four years, $78 million

Bad NBA teams with cap space are guaranteed to make at least one bad decision every summer.

Two of them joined forces to mess this one up during the first weekend of Las Vegas Summer League. The saga began when Sacramento, a team which already has two promising first-round picks on its roster who play shooting guard, zeroed in on LaVine as the chosen recipient of its hard-earned cap space. They offered him a four-year contract worth nearly $20 million annually — just $6 million less than Aaron Gordon will receive in total from the contract Orlando just signed him to.

NBA Twitter used the next several minutes to dole out the usual jabs at Sacramento. In truth, it made little sense that the Kings would add LaVine to a rotation featuring Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Aaron Fox. Any of those three players could easily become better than LaVine by the end of the deal he just signed.

And then, the unthinkable — Chicago matched on the offer sheet. Two factors seem to have prompted their decision. First, that glorious cap space gave them the ability to fit LaVine’s deal in without much of a 2018 sacrifice. Second, it would be miserable for a rebuilding team like the Bulls to bid farewell to LaVine, the core piece they added in return for Jimmy Butler in 2016.

That’s just not the way a promising young team should make decisions. Losing LaVine would have hurt for all the reasons Chicago couldn’t stomach, but paying him nearly $20 million per year will hurt worse if he doesn’t reach his value.

How many athletic scorers in the league are worth that much money unless they also play defense or make plays for their teammates? Not very many, and right now, LaVine doesn’t appear to be that kind of player.

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