Zach LaVine will have no shortage of suitors if the Chicago Bulls decide to put him on the trade market, and the Los Angeles Lakers will be one of the teams keen to acquire the All-Star.
- The Pros Of Zach LaVine Joining The Lakers
- 3. His contract is appealing to the Lakers
- 2. Zach LaVine Can Be The Second Superstar Once LeBron James Calls Time On His Decorated Career
- 1. LaVine Will Add More Teeth To The Lakers’ Offense
- The Cons Of LaVine Playing For The Lakers
- 3. Zach LaVine’s Injury Issues Are A Concern
- 2. He Can Force His Way Out Of LA If Things Don’t Work In His Favor
- 1. LaVine’s Contract Could Go The Same Way As Westbrook’s, Hampering LA’s Flexibility
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The last couple of months has seen LaVine heavily linked to the Lakers. And this comes on the back of reports that the guard and the Bulls aren’t necessarily seeing eye-to-eye. Couple this with NBA insiders dropping information about his potential move, and LaVine to LA becoming a possibility shouldn’t really come as a surprise.
For starters, he has been a force for the Bulls amid all the purported locker room storm, and his rocky relationship with head coach Billy Donovan. At the time of writing, the 27-year-old averages 23.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 47.0 from the field and 39.9% from downtown.
He is second behind DeMar DeRozan, who leads the scoring charts for Chicago, and was on the Lakers’ radar. The forward and the Bulls center, Nikola Vucevic, was pegged as the Lakers’ primary trade targets when the trade window opened.
However, the talks of sending Russell Westbrook and the two picks for the duo have been a topic of speculation, and there have been no concrete developments since. And after a good month of linking the two players to the Purple and Gold, LaVine is the next big name associated to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The latest development was all about the Lakers saving their future draft picks to land either LaVine or Washington Wizards’ veteran Bradley Beal. With both players eligible to be traded after January 15, the LA front office will be keen to bag one of these stars to instantly bolster the franchise’s chances of winning their second title in four years.
On the team front, the Bulls and Lakers are pretty much in the same boat, although if the play-in were today, the latter wouldn’t even be in contention despite James’ herculean efforts to get the team out of the rut they’re in.
LaVine joining the Lakers will significantly boost their chances of winning a title, but that’s not to say the move will be entirely fruitful.
Klutch connections and the rumor mills aside, a realistic look at this trade might make LA contenders, but there isn’t a guarantee of a title. On that note, here are the pros and cons of Zach LaVine inking a deal with the Lakers.
The Pros Of Zach LaVine Joining The Lakers
To start off with the pluses, having the Slam Dunk champ don the yellow and gold will give the fandom another reason to cheer, considering that he is a local boy. Expect a grand welcome, some eye-popping dunk mixtapes on social media, and a sellout of LaVine’s jerseys at the Crypto.com Arena.
Moving on to the larger picture:
3. His contract is appealing to the Lakers
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka was vocal about trading his coveted picks if it would give the side a shot at winning the title. The All-or-nothing approach, the franchises’ history of making blockbuster trades, and the promise they made to James to fit the right pieces alongside him make the LaVine trade all the more intriguing.
Adding to the appeal is his five-year, $215 million deal that includes a player option for 2026-27. He is currently in the first year of his contract, and should the Lakers attach a role player alongside Westbrook and their picks, they have a shot at landing the player they have been on the lookout for.
2. Zach LaVine Can Be The Second Superstar Once LeBron James Calls Time On His Decorated Career
James continues to defy father time at age 38. And he has his sights on playing with his son Bronny in the future, but the question of whether that happens in LA remains to be seen. If he indeed asks for a trade to realize his dream, or in that unlikely situation, call time on his career, LaVine will slot into the position as the team’s second superstar, with Davis leading the way.
The veteran and the front office have already established that Davis is the leader of the pack. The guard will be the team’s offensive powerhouse, with the big man focusing on staying dominant on both ends of the floor.
More importantly, LaVine has age on his side. At 27, he can be one of the players suiting up for LA for a long time, and it all starts with the move to get him this season if they can.
Davis, James, and LaVine, with the right role players automatically make the team bonafide playoff contenders. Their best shot at winning the title, though, would be with James on the side.
1. LaVine Will Add More Teeth To The Lakers’ Offense
Adding LaVine takes the load off James considerably. His ability to hold his nerve during Clutch Time and improved passing makes him a valuable asset to the team to play alongside James and Davis. The team has been devoid of sharpshooters — a fact that James publicly acknowledged.
Due credit to Darvin Ham for ensuring the Lakers superstars don’t suffer the clog they did last season with Westbrook. The move of making the guard take up sixth-man duties has worked wonderfully for the team and the 34-year-old. But there is no doubt that LaVine, with his sniping skills will be a more seamless fit over Westbrook.
Not to forget, he’s been playing his best basketball of late. His last five games see him average 31.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. It’s his 49.1% shooting from three-point range that’s restored some parity to Chicago’s flailing campaign.
The Cons Of LaVine Playing For The Lakers
When Russell Westbrook made his way to Los Angeles, it was with the hope that he would be the playmaker and the fulcrum of the Lakers’ attack. He was supposed to be the one taking the weight off James and shepherding the unit in his absence.
However, Westbrook’s subpar defense, not to mention his poor shooting, cost the side dearly as they failed to make the postseason.
It’s unfair to blame the guard wholly, with both James and Davis missing a good chunk of games to injuries, but the 33-49 run was a sheer disappointment despite the blockbuster trade. And chances are that the LaVine trade might take the same route.
3. Zach LaVine’s Injury Issues Are A Concern
Note that LaVine is working his way into full fitness following his knee surgery. He may have had the hot hand in the last few games, but that has been the same case with James and Davis, who has been on a tear before the latter suffered a stress fracture.
James has been playing with an ankle issue, and that may flare up at any point if the Lakers push him past the usual amount of minutes. With the exact timeline of Davis’ return unknown, LA will be fervently hoping for James to deliver, and adding LaVine, who has been looked at as an injury management candidate, isn’t entirely promising news.
What if he does go through the bad luck patch and land in an injury soup after signing for LA? The front office will consider his health as one of the major factors.
2. He Can Force His Way Out Of LA If Things Don’t Work In His Favor
While there have been reports of LaVine keen to join his hometown franchise, it’s not a rosy picture if things go sideways — something Westbrook has some experience in. It was supposed to be the perfect homecoming for the former MVP, but his first year was as harrowing as it could get.
Then comes that part of LaVine’s chemistry with the team. While it can be considered that his rough situation with the Bulls may not be the same way with the Lakers, the relationship is a crucial factor, especially if the latter are inking a long-term deal with him.
Note that Ham was hired as a no-nonsense coach, if there is another LaVine-Donovan situation, the guard asking out becomes a definite possibility. It’s all speculation, though but never say never.
1. LaVine’s Contract Could Go The Same Way As Westbrook’s, Hampering LA’s Flexibility
Again, the Lakers will be a wiser lot after signing Westbrook, whose salary cost them good talent. He is the highest-earning member of the team, a result of which the front office had to make do with players who would fit into their budget. Westbrook is set to make $47 million following this campaign, while James gets $44.5 million.
Needless to say, they are in danger of making the same mistake again with LaVine. Their current roster shows how crunched they are in terms of flexibility.
None of this could be an issue with LaVine, though, as aforementioned, but these are some of the key disadvantages that the front office must consider if they are keen on adding another superstar while doing away with the one and their future picks.
It’s still a gamble to sign the flamboyant star, but so’s every other massive move in the NBA. Only time will tell if it works for the Lakers and LaVine.
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