Potential Lakers Trade Target Being Shopped by Eastern Conference Team
The NBA offseason is now set to begin.
The Denver Nuggets won the NBA Finals earlier this week and now fans around the league will be turning their attention toward the quickly approaching draft and free agency.
Other business that's sure to be at hand though is the trade market, and while Bradley Beal could be moving on from the Wizards, there's another star that's being shopped by an Eastern Conference team.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Chicago Bulls are taking calls on shapshooting two guard Zach LaVine.
"... it’s the Chicago Bulls who have started contacting teams, quietly gauging the trade interest in Zach LaVine, league sources told Yahoo Sports. It remains to be seen just how willing Chicago is to part ways with LaVine, or if it receives a commensurate offer for his services. LaVine has four seasons remaining on his five-year, $215 million contract, and multiple teams have indicated the Bulls are holding a steep valuation for LaVine" (per Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports)
The Lakers have long been rumored to be a potential landing spot for LaVine.
The eight-year guard is familiar with the area, having played at UCLA before being drafted 13th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014.
Since coming into the league, he's proven himself to be a star, having garnered two All Star selections and averaging 24.8 points per game last season.
Most notably for the Lakers though is that he's an efficient shooter, having shot 49 percent from the field and 38 percent from three.
A consistent three point threat is something the Lakers have been sorely lacking for a while, and if they were to acquire LaVine, he figures to fit into the offense nicely alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Can they actually get him though?
On the surface, they may be able to afford LaVine from a cap perspective, given that the Lakers have a deluge of free agents set to hit the market this offseason.
But at that point LA wouldn't have much to offer Chicago, meaning Rob Pelinka would have to get creative -- potentially too much so -- to make a deal happen.
And if the Lakers got LaVine, they would essentially be letting Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and D'Angelo Russell all go in the process.
Yes, the Lakers would be acquiring a third star, but would be highly likely sacrificing depth.
And a move like that could shift Los Angeles right back to where they were in the first half of last season -- as long shots to make the postseason.
Would a trade for LaVine be worth it if the Lakers were able to make it happen?
I don't think so. And that's a question the franchise will have to answer for themselves.
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