If the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to make a trade, Chicago Bulls’ standout Zach LaVine should be their “dream target,” according to Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley.
Buckley highlighted LaVine’s “dynamic game and lethal shooting” as key factors that could elevate L.A.’s offense even further. Despite already having the fifth-ranked offense in the league, averaging 116.8 points per 100 possessions as of November 3, thanks to coach Nick Redick’s system built around Anthony Davis’ MVP-caliber play, adding LaVine could take the Lakers’ attack to another level.
Buckley pointed out that LaVine would provide an upgrade over D’Angelo Russell, who has struggled to adapt to Redick’s offensive system. Russell is averaging just 12.2 points, shooting 40.3% from the field and a poor 29.4% from beyond the arc. Although he had a strong performance against the Toronto Raptors on November 1, scoring 19 points on 50% shooting from 3-point range, his overall numbers remain underwhelming.
In contrast, LaVine has returned to his All-Star form, scoring 20+ points in six of the Bulls’ first seven games. He is averaging 22.7 points on 49.5% shooting from the field and an impressive 45.8% from three.
“Between LeBron James, a more involved Anthony Davis, and Austin Reaves, the Lakers would still have more than enough playmaking,” Buckley wrote. “LaVine was the only player in the league to average over 24 points per game and shoot better than 38% from three across at least 250 games between 2019-2020 and 2022-2023.”
**Trade Talks and Cap Challenges**
According to ClutchPoints’ Anthony Irwin, trade discussions between the Bulls and Lakers for LaVine are expected to pick up again, with the Bulls reportedly more inclined to deal him after his successful return from foot surgery during the preseason. The Lakers and Bulls had trade talks last season and again briefly over the summer, and sources indicate that those discussions will likely resume now that LaVine is healthy.
However, because the Lakers are above the salary cap’s “first apron,” they can’t take on more salary in a trade than they send out. To match LaVine’s $43 million salary for this season, the Lakers would likely need to include three of their rotation players—D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and either Jarred Vanderbilt or Gabe Vincent, according to the *Los Angeles Times*’ Dan Woike. A 3-for-1 deal would also open up two roster spots for the Lakers, who still have a $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception available.
**LeBron James’ Support for LaVine Trade**
When the Lakers were considering their options ahead of the February trade deadline, LeBron James expressed his support for acquiring LaVine, according to *The Athletic*. Despite the Lakers’ interest, they opted not to make a move for LaVine during the offseason.
