The Los Angeles Lakers want to win now but how badly do they want it? That will be tested over the winter as the Lakers could make a move for one of the three win-now players on the Bulls like Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso. unfortunately, Sam Amick’s latest report for The Athletic claims the Bulls will want Alex Caruso in any trade the Lakers try with them.
“For the Lakers, who are also known to have interest in the Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso (along with Zach LaVine), a conversation with Chicago is likely to include a request for Austin Reaves (who isn’t eligible to be traded until Jan. 15). But by all indications, the Lakers remain as committed to Reaves as they were when they gave him a four-year, $56 million deal last summer.”
The Lakers are running into dead-ends when it comes to figuring out trade offers for players that’ll improve their team without giving up any real rotational piece. They’ll likely hold off for the kind of deal they got last year for Russell Westbrook, where they got rid of him for three rotational players and a pick. There are plenty of options on the market if they explore their options beyond Chicago, but nothing comes easy in the NBA.
The Lakers don’t have a bad contract to move this season but will have to decide between moving D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, or Austin Reaves for a difference-making player. They may even need to add more than one of those pieces if it comes down to matching contracts, like the one for Zach LaVine.
The Lakers Shouldn’t Force A Move
It’s funny but the only player the Lakers should be comfortable moving Reaves for in a deal with Chicago is Alex Caruso. LaVine and DeRozan will not fit into the team seamlessly, but I understand that the Lakers would want them to reinforce their poor scoring, not add to their already lethal defense. Nonetheless, Reaves will likely be the price for any of these players if the Lakers want to make a move.
Zach LaVine was arguably the leading candidate for the last two months but it seems interest from LA has reduced in recent weeks, with division rivals Sacramento emerging as a possible threat to land LaVine. Zach’s agent, Rich Paul candidly said that he’s looking at several options for his client and it isn’t similar to Damian Lillard’s ‘one-team’ situation from his summer trade request.
“It’s not one team. I don’t have a specific destination for Zach. I want what’s best for Zach and his family. When you have a guy playing the game, you want him to be able to play the game happy, whether that’s in Chicago or somewhere else.”
LaVine hasn’t played since the last week of November, clearly biding his time on the bench as the Bulls prepare to trade him. He averaged 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists through 18 games this season, clearly disengaged on the court.
Reaves has had a slow start to the season but has found his form as a bench piece for the Lakers. He’s averaging 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists while being a crucial connective piece in the Lakers offense, especially with his chemistry alongside LeBron James.
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