Lakers Trade Pitch Would Move D’Angelo Russell & More for $215 Million Guard
To return to contention, the Los Angeles Lakers appear ready to make a trade this offseason. A trade that would have sent Zach LaVine to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for D’Angelo Russell and other players was suggested by Jake Uitti of The Sporting News.
Zach LaVine’s Asking Price ‘Has Dropped Significantly’
Though not as many as teams like the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and others that might also be star-hunting this offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers do have some assets. This offseason, the Lakers will have the ability to trade three first-round selections.
NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson claims that LaVine’s asking price “has dropped significantly.”
When asked if the Bulls were happy with Johnson on the roster, Johnson responded on June 1: “Content may be the wrong word, and I do get the sense both sides are motivated to make something work this offseason.”
“I don’t think the Bulls will take an awful deal if little materializes, but I do get the sense they’re open to more possibilities than before. More to the point: I’ve reported before what their asking price was—All-Star level talent, first-round picks or both—and my sense is that it has dropped significantly.”
If that’s the case, and the Lakers wouldn’t have to trade multiple first-round picks, it would also allow them to make other moves with their three tradeable first-round picks.
How LaVine Would Fit the Lakers
When he’s performing at his best, LaVine is a very skilled basketball scorer. It has only been a few seasons since he was considered one of the best shooting guards in the NBA.
Frank Urbina of Hoops Hype put LaVine at No. 5 in his ranking of the best shooting guards for the 2021–22 NBA season. This placement was well-deserved considering that LaVine was coming off of a season in which he scored 27.4 points per game, shot 50.7% from the field, and 41.9% from three-point range.
However, since then, LaVine has dealt with multiple injuries, and his production has taken a hit. In this past season, the 29-year-old played in 25 games, averaging 19.5 points and shooting 45.2% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range.
His foot ailment, which required surgery and held him out for a significant portion of the season, raises some concerns about his $215.1 million contract.
LaVine might provide the Los Angeles Lakers with another player who can score the ball at an extremely high level while playing next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers would get better if he could even replicate his 2021–22 campaign, in which he scored 24.4 points while shooting 47.6% from the field and 38.9% from three-point range.
The UCLA graduate might be a talent worth taking a shot on if no other trades happen..
