At 15-11 on the season, the Los Angeles Lakers haven’t gotten off to the hot start they were hoping for. LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been excellent so far, but the supporting cast (like always) still faces some questions as the New Year approaches. So far, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has stayed silent on any potential moves but it’s no secret that he covets a certain veteran swingman in Chicago.
“The Lakers have preferred year-to-year flexibility over long-term salaries since their championship run in 2020, and especially after the catastrophic Russell Westbrook trade,” wrote The Athleic’s Jovan Buha. “LaVine, meanwhile, represents a significant commitment for a player who’s been a borderline All-Star at best.”
On the court, DeRozan makes for a much better fit for the Lakers than LaVine or Caruso. But perhaps the biggest difference is in contract value, as Zach is set to make over $80 million in the next two seasons. For a Lakers team that is already paying two max-level superstars, it makes sense to avoid committing that much money to a young, unproven, one-sided player like LaVine.
Zach LaVine Is Untradeable
Drafted 13th overall to the Timberwolves in 2014, Zach LaVine was projected to be a high-level player from the very start. After his first two seasons in the league, he broke out into a borderline All-Star with the Wolves and put his name on the map by winning the slam dunk contest in 2016. When Zach was traded to the Bulls a few years later, expectations only rose higher and he met them in 2021 when he made his first All-Star team averaging 27.4 points per game.
Unfortunately for LaVine, the Bulls haven’t been very successful under his leadership. While Zach is good for scoring points in bunches, he’s often criticized for being a ball-stopper and his lack of a defensive edge can make him a downright liability on the court at times. Couple these issues with a ridiculous $215 million contract and it’s easy to understand why teams, the Lakers included, are staying far away from the 28-year-old swingman.
The Lakers Need Help
With LaVine and Caruso out of the plan, the Lakers can focus their efforts on acquiring longtime NBA veteran DeMar DeRozan. While not the best shooter or defender, DeMar’s playstyle, size, and willingness to share the ball makes him an ideal and realistic target to pair with LeBron and Anthony Davis. This season, as the Bulls’ best and most consistent player, DeRozan is averaging 22.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game on 44.1% shooting.
Whether it’s DeRozan, LaVine, or somebody else entirely, the Lakers are going to struggle to win as presently constructed. At almost 39 years old, LeBron James shouldn’t be going this hard every night, and Anthony Davis alone isn’t enough to carry them past the finish line. This season, seemingly like any other, the Lakers need more and it’ll be up to Rob Pelinka to figure out which players make the best fit for the modern-day Lakers.
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