It is a sports town, Chicago. Because of its renown among athletes worldwide, the city is a desirable location for top athletes. Top skill earns top dollar. So how did the teams in the Windy City spend their money last season? The top athletes in Chicago in 2022 are listed below.
1. Zach LaVine
Prior to the 2022-23 season, Zach LaVine signed a five-year, $215.2 million max contract with the Chicago Bulls. He become the first Bull since Derrick Rose to earn a max contract.
In the prime of his career at 27 years old, LaVine is the centerpiece of this Bulls era — at least financially. Chicago’s struggles so far this season have resulted in waves of locker-room drama, some of which has been directed at LaVine specifically. The UCLA product is an undoubtedly skilled player, but he must hang with the league’s best night in and night out to be the guy for the Bulls.
2. DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan joined the Bulls via a sign-and-trade agreement with the San Antonio Spurs during the 2021 offseason. The deal was for three years and $81.9 million, which averages out to $27.3 million per season.
At the time, Bleacher Report deemed the Bulls’ acquisition of DeRozan as the worst free-agent signing of the offseason. But DeRozan laughed in his critics’ faces when he earned All-Star and All-NBA Second Team honors during a phenomenal first season in Chicago. The 33-year-old is still playing at an elite level, but many have questioned if age will catch up to him in the near future.
3. Marcus Stroman
Entering the 2022 campaign, the Chicago Cubs were in search of pitching stability. They found that in Marcus Stroman, who signed a three-year, $71 million deal with the North Siders.
In his first season with the Cubs, Stroman went 6-7 with a 3.50 ERA, 1.147 WHIP, and 2.6 bWAR. The Cubs have focused on offensive help this offseason, most notably signing Dansby Swanson, so Stroman should see more run support in future starts.
4. Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball was a touchy subject among Chicagoans for most of 2022. The dynamic point guard appeared to be a godsend upon joining the Bulls in a sign-and-trade agreement with the New Orleans Pelicans prior to the 2021-22 season. Ball’s four-year, $80 million deal seemed to be well worth it when he helped the Bulls click in all facets of the game and hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference during his first few months in the red and black.
However, health became an issue just after the calendar flipped to 2022. Ball last suited up almost a year ago (Jan. 14, 2022) before suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee. An initial return timeline of 6-8 weeks expanded to the rest of the season and then through the playoffs before it devolved into a saga of complications and setbacks. Ball still has not returned to the court — even for practice — and each “update” has been marginal at best. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan recently said Ball is making some progress, but he reiterated that has been slow.
5. Nikola Vucevic
Nikola Vucevic was the first big splash by Chicago Bulls’ Executive Vice President Arturas Karnisovas. The Bulls acquired Vucevic in the middle of his four-year, $100 million contract when the Orlando Magic decided to rebuild again and trade away assets.
Vucevic has drawn ire from the Bulls’ fan base for inconsistent shooting performances and a lack of physicality at times. However, he has averaged a double-double every year he has been a Bull.
Source: yardbarker.com
