Lakers Eyeing $119 Million Duo Over Trade For Bulls’ Zach LaVine, Per Insider

The Los Angeles Lakers are predicted to pull out a few trade moves in order to add new names to their roster and Zach LaVine has been mentioned as a top target. The Lakers front office may need to acquire new players to strengthen the roster. Shams Charania from The Athletic discussed a potential move for the Chicago Bulls star, but Jovan Buha expects a different scenario for the purple and gold.

“In conversations I’ve had in recent weeks regarding the Bulls, there is real interest in Zach LaVine. But I think it comes at the right price,” Buha said on the “Hoops Tonight” podcast on November 28. “I’ve actually heard that they’re more interested in DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso.”

The Lakers have shown interest in LaVine many times before, including the time when he was an unrestricted free agent.

Caruso had great performance during his time with the Lakers. Losing him was a big blow for the team. Maybe Pelinka would rather choose him over LaVine. Caruso helped the Lakers win a title inside the Orlando bubble and gathered an army of fans. The Lakers didn’t show any attention to keep him and he signed a three-year deal with the Bulls.

“AC, he’s the one that got away,” Buha said. “It still bothers them inside the organization. It’s still a very divisive topic in terms of his departure and why that happened, and who’s to blame, and it’s just kind of a thorny situation still.”

Lakers to trade for Caruso instead of LaVine

Caruso was brilliant in the 2022-23 NBA season. He saw action in 67 games and even earned First-Team All-Defensive honors. He shoots 46.4% from deep this season, recording the second-best mark in his NBA career.

“One of the best point-of-attack defenders in the league, one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, period,” Buha said. “We’ve seen the success he’s had next to LeBron and AD in a Lakers jersey.”

The Bulls got great performance from Caruso and they may not be willing to lose him. K.C. Johnson from NBC Sports Chicago reported that the Bulls are looking for potential trade partners for LaVine.

“DeMar is someone that the Lakers have courted for several years now, dating back to originally Toronto and then San Antonio and now in Chicago,” Buha said. “He’s that over-the-top shotmaker that the team seemingly doesn’t really have outside of when LeBron’s jumper is falling.”