Lakers ‘Expected’ To Consider Trade Options For Bulls Star

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, but latest reports suggest that the franchise is open for another trade move. Shams Charania from The Athletic linked the Lakers to the Chicago Bulls regarding a trade deal for Zach LaVine.

Charania reported that Chicago may be looking for an ideal trade partner, noting that LA could be a good destination for the two-time All- Star.

“Teams that are expected to have a level of interest in LaVine I’m told: the Lakers, Heat, and 76ers,” Charania said on “The Rally” on November 14. “The sense around the league is, whether it’s LaVine or [DeMar] DeRozan or both, there could be movement in Chicago sooner than later.”

LaVine could be an excellent addition to the current Lakers roster. He is averaging 21.9 points this season and has just entered the second year of his five-year deal. It’s interesting to note that LaVine has already been mentioned as a potential Laker. The Lakers were expected to make a move for him in 2022, but he joined the Bulls in free agency. We’d just also mention that LaVine and LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, attended the game between Kansas and Kentucky at the United Center. What does that mean?

SHOWTIME ZACH LAVINE 📸

Suns-Bulls | Live on the NBA App
📲 : https://t.co/QPNRiLoJ3U pic.twitter.com/J6Doh55eL9

— NBA (@NBA) November 9, 2023

“I’m told teams have begun probing the Bulls on the availability of Zach LaVine,” Charania said. “And I’m told there is increased openness from both LaVine and the Bulls on a trade. Most of the NBA’s general managers are here in Chicago today. That’s where conversations are expected to begin in earnest as the season begins.

Lakers front office faces big challenge in Bulls trade

There’s a catch though. Trading for LaVine won’t be that easy. The Lakers would have to wait until December to pull out an eventual trade. Their tradeable assets cannot be traded by the end of the year. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka can play with several options and send D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Gabe Vincent to the Bulls.

Zach LaVine with the two-way sequence 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MNVBiHMko8

— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) November 9, 2023

If Pelinka doesn’t get LaVine, he may go for DeMar DeRozan. He is an experienced veteran with great skills. NBA analysts believed that he’d join the Lakers in 2021, but he went all the way to Chicago.