As the NBA trade deadline draws near, time is running out for the Los Angeles Lakers to make their big move. Rui Hachimura was a nice start, but the Purple and Gold will have to rely on more than the services of an underperforming lottery pick if they want to maximize the final years of LeBron James.
Fortunately for them, there is one star player who could be available this season, and he might be good enough to move the needle for L.A. His name is Zach LaVine, and the Lakers have him circled as a potential trade target amid Chicago’s ongoing struggles.
“The name that’s become more interesting to me as this season has gone on and it’s become clearer and clearer that the Bulls are not going to get it together is LaVine,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe said. “I know there has been some thought about with people around the Lakers as a potential trade slash ‘that’s kind of our cap space acquisition.’”
With a 22-26 record, the Chicago Bulls aren’t completely out of the playoff picture, but it’s clear they are no threat to win a series when it really matters. Instead of paying a team incapable of winning, the Bulls might strongly consider moving on from their core veterans, and the Lakers will be there to answer the call.
Lakers Have The Most Valuable First-Round Picks In The NBA
To get any deal done for LaVine, it’s going to take a monster package that includes both of their first-round draft picks. For salary reasons, Russell Westbrook would need to be attatched as well.
According to Zach Lowe, the Bulls would accept a deal of Westbrook and two firsts for LaVine.
“One unprotected and the second one has the most limited possible protections that’s allowable under NBA rules,” he said of the theoretical trade.
The Lakers have to decide how much they value their current group of guys. If they want to go all-in, they will need to let go of the future and do whatever it takes to build the best team possible.
As an athletic scorer and playmaker who also happens to be a 20+ points-per-game scorer, LaVine is certainly good enough to give the Lakers a chance against any team in the league.
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