PLAYING for the most popular basketball team in the world guarantees a place in the news cycle. Even if the Lakers are not playing in the playoffs, they are always news material. Right in the middle of the ongoing NBA Conference Finals, a rumor floated linking the Los Angeles Lakers to Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls.
It's easy to put one and one together. LaVine is a UCLA product, and he did fit well during his time in California. He is also a scorer, something the Lakers needed in their campaign next season. The caveat is that LaVine is also known as a chucker, although he is unlikely to be as bad as Westbrook, who, incidentally, is also a UCLA Bruin.
Will the former NBA Slam Dunk champion join the Lakers? Why would he leave a positive situation with the Chicago Bulls for the train wreck that was the Tinseltown team?
Lukewarm wind
This is a dilemma faced by most teams when they start to rise up the ladder: Expectations get higher and their stars feel unappreciated. The Windy City used to have LaVine as its marquee player, but now, the Bulls main man is the resurgent DeMar DeRozan. The former Toronto Raptor was actually an MVP candidate this season, and while the improvement was unexpected, the Bulls will approach the next season with raised expectations. Of course, the game plan will now be centered on DeRozan.
While LaVine always wanted to have help on the team, there could be other destinations that have piqued his interest. The Lakers are not the only one in the rumor mill. Portland was also linked to LaVine and with good reason. The dunk virtuoso hails from Washington State, the Pacific Northwest. Also, he will be playing alongside Damian Lillard. Finally, the Blazers can offer him a max contract straight up, without any financial and logistical calisthenics.
What is certain is that LaVine is not very happy with how the Bulls seem hesitant to offer him the full max contract simply because he is no longer the best player on the team. He can explore unrestricted free agency and even though there are few teams with the cap space to directly offer the max, that has never stopped teams before.
Tough work for the Lakers
Right off the bat, it would be very difficult for the Lakers to acquire LaVine. Not impossible — nothing is impossible in the NBA.
Side note: The LA Clippers' sudden acquisition of Paul George probably ranks as the ultimate mind-boggling deal. It showcased the savvy of their front office to pull off a feat in record time and utmost secrecy. Not even the great Adrian Wojnarowski caught wind of it prior to the actual trade.
For those suggesting a sign-and-trade involving Russell Westbrook, that is off the table. Even in theory, it won't work because the outgoing value of Lavine is only $19 million. It is also unlikely that the Bulls, who are now seeing themselves as actual contenders, would agree to take in Westbrook.
The only reason anyone would trade for Westbrook is that he has an expiring contract. Teams would send their long-term albatrosses for the expiring, biggest albatross. The hope is that the Lakers can trade off Westbrook to a team in that situation, one that would want to make a full reset by next year. The Lakers can then flip whatever players they can extract to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for LaVine. It's as difficult as it sounds.
A possible candidate could be the New York Knicks exercising buyer's remorse on Julius Randle. The Bulls would need Randle more than they would need LaVine as they even fielded DeRozan at the four spot. Also, it would be hard to dismiss Randle considering his performance as Most Improved Player in 2021. Playing for a contender could reinspire him.
These are all hypotheticals and there are so many factors that are not within the Lakers' control. All of these are assumptions and so much needs to fall into place. But crazier things have happened in the NBA.