The Los Angeles Lakers have not hit on any free agent signings this summer, running their roster from last season back with a few departures like Taurean Prince and additions such as rookies Dalton Knecht and Bronny James. The team is relying on the improved health of their rotation and the ideas of JJ Redick to take them further than the 47 wins and first-round exit they earned last season, but a major move is needed for them to compete in the West.
Redick has made his desire to acquire a center clear in interviews, with the team looking thin behind Anthony Davis in that position. The franchise could benefit from a double-big combination allowing Davis to play as a power forward once again, as he did in the title-winning 2019-20 campaign. The Bulls are resisting a rebuild but might have the perfect solution for the Lakers.
Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Nikola Vucevic
Chicago Bulls Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, 2025 Second-Round Pick (LAL)
Acquiring the expiring contract of D’Angelo Russell gives the Bulls future flexibility with his money coming off the books while Maxwell Lewis could be a long-term success on the soon-to-be rebuilding franchise. Meanwhile, the Lakers get a win-now player like Vucevic without dipping deep into their draft capital.
The Lakers Go For A Unique Double-Big Combination
The Lakers have been looking for ways to compete in the West, with the Dallas Mavericks showing that competent center play is needed to compete in the Conference. The team turned from the 11th seed to NBA Finalists in one season by drafting a center and adding another one at the deadline. With the Wolves and Nuggets also using size and the Thunder overpaying to add a center, the Lakers need to create a structure to return to the double-big lineups they ran under Frank Vogel.
Vucevic is a competent scorer and hard-nosed rebounder, averaging 18.0 points and 10.5 rebounds last season. His presence would take a lot of the pressure off Davis to rebound and be a paint presence, allowing him to play as a free-roaming defender, a role he excels at. Vucevic will be a talented offensive option, an upgrade on the theoretical fit the franchise imagined when they were targeting Jonas Valuncuinas in free agency. He’ll be a solid fit alongside LeBron James as well, being a pick-and-roll partner with good offensive instincts.
The Lakers are looking to move off D’Angelo Russell and could move Austin Reaves to point guard while promoting either Max Christie or rookie Dalton Knecht to the starting shooting guard. Knecht would provide offense while Christie is better-rounded as a defender, so the Lakers would still have solid lineup options at their disposal by giving up just one player for a major big-man upgrade.
The Bulls Take Another Step Toward Rebuilding
The Chicago Bulls have been floating in the middle of the pack for years now, with the team proving last season that Play-In Appearances might be their ceiling in their current construction. That led to DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso moving on this summer, and will likely follow over to Vucevic and Zach LaVine, though moving LaVine is complicated by his massive contract and injury issues.
The Bulls extended Vucevic last season, but his two-year, $40 million deal could be worth it for a contender like the Lakers in the short term. In addition, they acquire D’Angelo Russell in this deal as an expiring contract. Russell averaged 18.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists last season, which could be beneficial for the Bulls if they look to move him again closer to the deadline to a win-now team that needs guard play.
Expecting more than second-round picks for Vucevic might be a tall order given his relatively low trade value at the moment. The Bulls could swap out Russell for Rui Hachimura if they want the 26-year-old forward as a possible future option, but his contract has more years on it. Russell will either be a trade option or be gone at the end of the season regardless, which gives the Bulls the latitude they need to turn this roster over next offseason with a presumed top-five draft pick provided they can tank to the bottom of the East.
Moving Around Pieces To Achieve Shared Goals
The Bulls and Lakers have clear directions they want to head in but can’t find the right trade partners to move off their players. They could come together for this deal to liberate LA from D’Angelo Russell while fortifying their primary position of need. Meanwhile, the Bulls receive an expiring contract that could be used for additional trade assets or as a one-year dump for extra salary space next summer.
Vucevic is versatile enough to find a play style that fits alongside Davis in a two-center situation, while also serving as a valuable presence in non-Davis minutes. His offensive panache will help the Lakers avoid the large funks they had last season when their perimeter scoring attempts would fail, especially in non-LeBron minutes. Vucevic can play with his back-to-the-basket while not being overpowered by opposing centers.
The Bulls will take another step towards the bottom of the East for the 2025 NBA Draft, but moving just Vucevic won’t be enough. This is likely a starter trade before the team also looks for new destinations for players like Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball.
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