2-Time All-Star & Elite Scorer Predicted to Spurn Lakers in Free Agency

The Los Angeles Lakers have a chance to grab an experienced player in free agency. They have shown interest in several star, but they may lose the two-time All-Star.

Rob Pelinka had a chance to get Zach LaVine in free agency. However, Jake Fischer from Bleacher Report believes the star will re-sign with the Chicago Bulls.

“Two-time All-Star Zach LaVine will re-sign with the Chicago Bulls once the free-agency negotiation period opens June 30, sources told B/R. LaVine’s free agency has generated plenty of conversation among NBA personnel over the past few weeks,” Fischer reported. “But despite rumblings that the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers will make plays for LaVine, the coveted swingman is likely to remain with his current team.”

The Bulls may give LaVine a max five-year deal worth $212 million. If he leaves the team, he won’t get more than $157 million. Unfortunately, the Lakers don’t have enough money to get LaVine. The talented player averaged 24.4 points, 4.6 re-bounds, and 4.5 assists per game this past season. He would fit the Lakers roster, but LA faces huge challenge.

Lakers didn’t have the money to get the talented player in free agency

Frank Urbina from HoopsHype discussed the Lakers’ chance to get LaVine. The franchise doesn’t have enough money and Pelinka will have to flex his finances to get someone like LaVine.

“Per our salary-cap expert Yossi Gozlan, the only real way for the Lakers to successfully sign-and-trade for Zach LaVine is if Russell Westbrook is included in the deal, or he is salary dumped beforehand,” Urbina wrote on May 31. “This is because sign-and-trading for a free agent like LaVine would subject the Lakers to the $156 million hard cap, which the Lakers would need to stay below with at least 14 players. By replacing Westbrook’s $47.1 million amount with LaVine’s projected $36.6 million starting salary, they can still fill out the rest of the roster around him, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the rest of the players currently under contract.

“The only problem is that the Lakers would be limited to signing minimum players the rest of the way, meaning they’ll be looking at another season with 9-10 minimum players on the roster. It’s hard to see the Lakers being contenders with the majority of the roster being minimum players again.”