Another big-ticket roster upgrade!
As we approach Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, the trade rumors are heating up. The Dallas Mavericks made the trade of this year’s deadline on Sunday, and we’ll see if that opens things up for a very active deadline.
Yours Los Angeles Lakers are one team looking to be buyers by Thursday, and they’ve been linked to a handful of players.
NBA Yahoo reporter Jake Fischer said LA is one of four teams that could be looking to trade for two-time Chicago Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine.
“The Lakers, Heat, Knicks and Mavericks have consistently been mentioned by league personnel as holding motivations to land LaVine if the time does arrive.”
The Bulls are currently in the ninth seed in the East, and LaVine is not playing up to the level his new five-year, $215 million contract might warrant. He is in the first season of the deal.
LaVine is currently averaging 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 46.3% from the field and close to 38% from behind the arc.
He is second in scoring on the Bulls behind another All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan.
According to dawindycity.com, a deal for the 27-year-old would need to include Russell Westbrook (duh), along with LA’s two coveted 2027 and 2029 first-round picks.
As we have been told, the Lakers were willing to give up their first-round picks for eight-time All-Star Kyrie Irving, but will they be willing to give them up for the two-time All-Star LaVine? If Rob Pelinka and company feel like LaVine makes them a title contender, then they will. If not, the Lakers won’t even bother entertaining that idea.
We’ll know soon enough if the Bulls are selling LaVine.