As the Bulls move closer toward a rebuild, the status of 2x All-Star Zach LaVine grows increasingly uncertain. While no deal is imminent at this time, LaVine has started the next step in the trade process by revealing his list of preferred landing spots across the association. Unlike Damian Lillard and James Harden, LaVine’s list includes five teams of varying market sizes.
“LaVine and his representation hold several preferred landing spots, such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers,” league sources told Yahoo Sports. “Each team has registered some level of interest in the Bulls guard. LaVine also has an eye on joining the San Antonio Spurs, in order to pair with rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama and reunite with head coach Gregg Popovich. There are several other contending situations LaVine would welcome joining, sources said, one being Sacramento.”
After scoring 19 points in Chicago’s 96-94 loss to the Orlando Magic, LaVine addressed the trade rumor himself, telling reporters that he was used to the noise and that it was just a ‘regular Wednesday’ for him. While LaVine has dealt with the rumors for years now, this is the first time that a deal appears likely and there’s a sense that it’s only a matter of time before he’s moved to another situation.
LaVine Is An All-Star
For all the heat that Zach gets for his shortcomings on defense, he’s a certified bucket-getter who can thrive in the right environment. Over nine seasons in the NBA, Zach is averaging 20.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game on 46.3% shooting from the field. As a 2x All-Star, former All-Rookie player, and slam dunk champion, LaVine has an impressive resume and there is no question that he’s one of the best guards in the league at scoring points and creating his own shot.
With the Bulls, Zach has seen mixed success. As the team’s leader and their best player, LaVine has done an admirable job in Chicago but they don’t have the right pieces to make it work. In the wake of Lonzo Ball’s injury two seasons ago, the Bulls have been painfully average and most experts agree that they are long overdue for some serious changes.
The Lakers Need LaVine
Out of all the potential LaVine teams, the Lakers probably make the most sense. Ranked 24th in offense, the Purple and Gold desperately need some scoring in the backcourt to complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis. So far, D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves have not stepped up the way the Lakers were hoping but LaVine’s offensive prowess could change the entire trajectory of the season.
Depending on the deal, the Lakers could add LaVine without giving up their core players and he’d make an ideal fit in the backcourt as a shot-creator and floor-spacer The question is, can the Lakers actually win a bidding war for Zach, or will he be too expensive for what they have to offer? At this point, it’s still a mystery how teams across the league value Zach LaVine but we should get our answer soon as the trade process moves into the next phase. If the Lakers are smart, they’ve already been considering a run for LaVine and Pelinka is working overtime to build a package that puts the Lakers in the driver’s seat for the 2x All-Star.
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