The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t had the start to the season they wanted, going 5-5 through their first five games. They’ve already had a game apiece without Anthony Davis and LeBron James, with Davis not being there leading to a blowout loss and James not being there leading to a tough win against the woeful Trail Blazers. They need more reliable options on their roster to sustain them through runs where either star is unavailable.
The Chicago Bulls are in nowhere’s land in the NBA. They’re too good to have the best lottery odds but too good to be able to tank to the bottom. Multiple reports of teams around the NBA monitoring what’s happening in Chicago have surfaced, and the Lakers could be the team to benefit the most, provided they give up a haul of assets to the Bulls for Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso.
Trade Details
Chicago Bulls Receive: Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2025 Second-Round Pick (LAL), 2027 Second-Round Pick (LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso
This trade allows the Bulls to offload the contract of the injury-prone LaVine for a collection of young assets and picks. Giving up Caruso in the deal will be a necessary sweetener, given the Lakers are giving them picks and three young rotational players that could help them compete or could be moved for more assets.
The Bulls Can Pick Their Direction
The Bulls have been very hesitant in blowing their roster up, especially with the years of poor play fans sat through since the end of the Jimmy Butler era. LaVine was supposed to be the future star that leads them into the new era, but this team cannot keep waiting for LaVine to magically find the right form, especially now that he’s 28 years old. His injury history and winning record make him undesirable to many because of his contract, but the Lakers could benefit from that.
Austin Reaves may be the best potential player the Bulls could hope to net in a deal for LaVine. Though he’s had a rough start to this season and averaged 13.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, Reaves could thrive in Chicago. LaVine leaving opens up a hole for a primary scorer alongside DeMar DeRozan, with Reaves already proving he can play multiple offensive roles. The praise for him from Team USA proves there is genuine potential to still be extracted out of the 25-year-old.
D’Angelo Russell is a huge loss, as he’s averaging 17.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.9 assists and has solidified himself as the starting point guard of the Lakers. Given his contract is reasonably priced and isn’t very long, he could be an asset that the Bulls use alongside DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic or move for more assets. With the lack of a defined point guard, it’s likely the team will keep him for the short term at least.
Hachimura is a rangy wing who has shown great utility for the Lakers, but his inclusion will also be necessary to get the deal over the line. It may be a lot to give up, but the Lakers are getting two instant impact options in return.
The Lakers Add Proven Production Alongside LeBron And AD
The Lakers haven’t had a problem with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, with the two stars doing what they’ve been asked to and leading the team admirably. The inconsistent production from the rest of the roster is the problem, as the Lakers need more consistent solutions. Thankfully, this trade gives them exactly that with a bucket-getter like LaVine and a perimeter menace like Alex Caruso.
LaVine is averaging 22.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists this season. He looks a little lost in the Bulls offense right now, awkwardly sharing responsibilities with DeRozan. While he may see his touches reduce in LA, he will be back where he played college ball and be the best bailout option in the NBA. With LeBron looking to play in a more team-friendly role, LaVine may be unleashed offensively if he has LeBron playmaking and setting screens for him.
Caruso has good chemistry with the Lakers top two already, playing a pivotal part in their 2020 title success. The Lakers haven’t had the level of perimeter defense needed since Caruso left. With Darvin Ham in charge, Caruso would instantly be a high-level starter who will be expected to play a two-way role in stretching the floor as well as being the primary guard stopper. He’s averaging 7.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1,6 steals this season and is being widely tipped as an All-Defense First-Team player for his performances.
The Lakers lose some size, their starting point guard, and a bucket-getter that meshed well with LeBron, but they’re adding players that excel in their given role with LaVine and Caruso and can be more reliable options for the team given the health of the two stars that run the show.
The Lakers Re-Enter The Top Of The West While The Bulls Pivot
This deal has major benefits for both sides. The players the Bulls get from the Lakers can be used and developed to continue winning alongside DeRozan and Vucevic, with a failed run making them movable later on as well. The future pick will be valuable, given the likelihood of Davis not being the player he is right now in 2029. Getting Reaves and Hachimura from the Lakers will be a massive coup, with Russell coming in as a temporary guard or future trade asset.
The Lakers thin out their rotation but can still rely on a very strong 8-10 man rotation when needed, This also opens up minutes for youngsters like Max Christie and Jalen Hood-Schifino, provided they can step up and fill whatever role they’re required to. With the starting guard vacancy, the Lakers can finally commit to starting LeBron there along with Caruso, Zach LaVine, Taurean Prince, and Anthony Davis to create a defensive terror lineup with floor-spacing and a bailout iso option in LaVine. Holding onto the likes of Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood will also be massively beneficial.
This is a risky move for both, but opens up a world of opportunities. Conferences are so thinly divided that moves like this can swing a team to the top or the bottom, so both teams will hope to maximize the value they get out of a deal like this.
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