LA Lakers finally sign Zach LaVine from Chicago Bulls for $89 Million… See More…
The scenario where the Lakers can acquire Zach LaVine features the star requesting a trade from the Chicago Bulls to play with LeBron James. He previously noted that LeBron James is his dream teammate, so his doing so is within the realm of possibility.
As of right now, Zach LaVine is averaging 25.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 4.1 APG for the Chicago Bulls. He is a three-level scorer and is highly effective from the 3PT range, averaging 38.4% from the 3PT range while shooting 7.1 attempts.
He seems like the perfect fit next to two ball-dominant superstars like Anthony Davis and LeBron James due to his off-ball game, and he can be a go-to scorer in clutch time as well.
The goal for the Los Angeles Lakers should be to reduce the wear and tear on LeBron James and Anthony Davis going into the playoffs. Adding another star like Zach LaVine would allow them to do so, as he and D’Angelo Russell can take care of business in the regular season while helping the older stars stay fresh for the postseason.
Adding Zach LaVine should be a no-brainer move for the Los Angeles Lakers. Stars don’t become available that often in this league, especially ones as talented as LaVine.
The Lakers have the assets to get him, and he would enjoy playing for the franchise. The two parties seem like a match made in heaven, and we’ll see what ends up happening in the future.
The Chicago Bulls are a team that is kind of in no man’s land right now: they have two solid stars, but they are in the play-in tournament.
They made multiple win-now deals in past seasons, but clearly, things haven’t worked out for them in terms of becoming a perennial playoff team. Zach LaVine is their highest-valued player, and moving him could make sense for the team.
This trade scenario would hinge on Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura accepting sign-and-trade deals, and there are some appealing reasons for them to do so. If the Bulls are trading LaVine, then they are likely looking for younger players that they can give minutes and develop.
Both Hachimura and Reaves would be able to have bigger roles on the Bulls, which could potentially lead to bigger contracts down the line if they play well.
Malik Beasley is included in this deal for salary-matching purposes, and the 2029 first-round pick is the draft compensation required to get the deal done. Beasley has a fantastic reputation as a 3PT shooter, and if he plays well on the Bulls, they could trade him once again at next year’s trade deadline to get other assets.
Overall, the Chicago Bulls would get a solid trade package for their young star and give themselves a solid core of prospects to build around and try and become competitive in the future. They should consider trying to see if the Los Angeles Lakers will make this deal in the offseason.
