One executive from a Western Conference team believes the Los Angeles Lakers should renew their interest in Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine, according to the Los Angeles Times‘ Dan Woike.
“Here was the gist of the pitch: LaVine could be gotten by simply matching the money he’s owed, getting the Bulls out from underneath a contract that’s likely going to last until 2027 and cost the team $138 million,” Woike wrote. “That would allow the Lakers to keep their draft assets for a future deal or the inevitable rebuild.”
Woike threw some cold water on the idea, though, reporting “the actual Lakers front office never has shown any real interest in LaVine, as far as I can tell.”
In May, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reported on his podcast that LaVine was “intrigued” by the idea of suiting up in purple in gold midway through the 2023-24 season. However, he added the Lakers turned their attention to other targets ahead of the February trade deadline and looking ahead to the offseason.
Across the board, a trade market for LaVine appears to be nonexistent. NBA insider Marc Stein reported in July that the Bulls are “resigned to fact that they will likely be forced to start the new season with LaVine on the roster and take it a step further by trying to help him rebuild some trade value after months of fruitless efforts to find a new home via trade — and after a foot injury and eventual surgery limited the 29-year-old to 25 games last season.”
The discourse around the 6’5″ guard does somewhat elide the fact he’s a two-time All-Star who has averaged 24.2 points and shot 38.3 percent from beyond the arc in seven seasons with Chicago.
But he required season-ending foot surgery last year to add to the long-term concerns over his durability, and the three years he has left on his $215.2 million extension are a tough pill for any team to swallow.
As a theoretical concept, LaVine would be a great secondary scorer to play off LeBron James and Anthony Davis if he could return to his peak. That version might be gone forever, though, and he was a poor defender even at his best.
It’s hard to see LaVine being a big difference-maker for Los Angeles absent a major turnaround to start the 2024-25 campaign.