The Los Angeles Lakers struck out on numerous big names this offseason, but there’s still at least one option on the table that hasn’t been ruled out.
It’s no secret Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has been on the hunt for potential moves to bolster his roster ahead of next season. Los Angeles could look to give their first-year head coach JJ Redick even more firepower as the team hopes to get back to the NBA Finals. That said, the Lakers could circle back to a player seeking a fresh start. Although, a deal to acquire the star won't be easy.
"For instance, D'Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Christian Wood are enough to get (Zach) LaVine (assuming he is willing to waive his trade kicker; arguably a must in any deal to the Lakers) - but that would be extremely difficult to execute before the season as LA would have a hard time staying under a second-apron hard cap getting back to 14 standard contracts," Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus wrote Tuesday.
LaVine’s relationship with the Chicago Bulls has seemingly continued to get worse dating back to the start of last season. The former lottery pick was dealt to Chicago in a blockbuster deal that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota in 2017. Following the deal, the UCLA product flourished and looked to be the next building block in Chicago.
However, after several mediocre seasons, LaVine’s frustration boiled over, which led to the disgruntled star being a player who’s expected to be moved sooner rather than later. And with the Bulls nowhere near playoff contention after losing DeMar DeRozan in free agency, it makes sense for the 29-year-old to move on from the Windy City.
LaVine only suited up for 25 games last season, when he averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists on 45.2% shooting from field goal range. Although it’s a small sample size, the high-flying guard has shown that he can still play.
The only downside to a potential deal would be for the Lakers to find a way to bring in his incoming $43 million salary. On the flip side, Pelinka could be in the position to send as little compensation as possible considering how fractured the relationship between the player and team is in Chicago.
