All-Star Guard Available Again: Will Lakers Pursue Him This Summer?
Although the focus on the Los Angeles Lakers is finishing as the best seed possible and making another long playoff run, this offseason will be monumental for the team.
The Lakers brass will have a lot on their plate, and once again, this team could look slightly different when the 2024-2025 season rolls around. How different would it look? Well, the All-Star guard from the Chicago Bulls, Zach LaVine, will reportedly be available via trade this offseason.
K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reported that the Bulls will look to trade LaVine again this offseason.
The Lakers have been linked to him for a handful of years now. Will the Lakers make a move towards him this offseason to add their potential third star? There's a chance.
The Bulls have been trying to find suitors for the two-time All-Star. LaVine has been with the Bulls for seven seasons, and his time in Chicago is winding down. Chicago could not find a suitable trade last offseason and this year's trade deadline. They're hoping the third time is the charm.
The Lakers will have plenty to offer this offseason. They'll have three draft picks they could trade, along with some good players with reasonable contracts on the books.
The bad news is that LaVine underwent season-ending surgery on his right foot in early February. The good news is that, according to Johnson, he is expected to be ready for training camp as he is "ahead of schedule in his recovery."
The All-Star guard is a career 20.5 points per game scorer, 3.9 assists, and 4.1 rebounds on 46.4% shooting from the field and 38.3% from behind the arc. He is under contract through the 2025-2026 season, with a player option for the 2026-2027 season that clocks in at $49 million.
The Bulls are a middle-of-the-pack team who has not been able to get over the hump with LaVine as one of their top players. On the other hand, the Lakers could be a team that could use another third star despite the PTSD Lakers fans still have with Russell Westbrook.
The interest is there between the two; however, once the offseason hits, there could be a ton of players on the trade market. All eyes will be on the Lakers and their pursuit of a third star. This time, they'll look to make it right and bring back superstar LeBron James in the process.
This will be an entertaining summer.
