Why Lakers’ Trade For Zach LaVine Won’t End Like Russell Westbrook

The Lakers’ Zach LaVine trade will not end up like the Russell Westbrook trade because LaVine’s a better player and fit than Russ and L.A. won’t agree to any deal unless Chicago’s appropriately desperate to dump Zach.

Two years ago, the Lakers traded Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, and the 22 pick in 2021 draft to the Washington Wizards for Russell Westbrook and their 2024 and 2028 second round picks.
Essentially, the Lakers gave up two starters, one backup, and one first round pick for Westbrook and two second round picks. While L.A. missed Kuzma and KCP, the core issue with the trade was Westbrook’s poor fit.

Ultimately, the decision to trade for Zach LaVine will depend on whether the Lakers believe he is the right fit for what they need and whether the Bulls are willing to accept the players and draft capital being offered.
Right now, it appears the Bulls’ first priority is dumping LaVine before other pieces and it appears the Lakers are interested but only at the right price, which makes sense considering the Bulls don’t have other options.

Pelinka’s done a great job rebuilding Lakers after the Westbrook disaster and has the team well positioned with tradable players on team friendly contracts and a post-LeBron pick just waiting for opportunity to knock.
The Lakers don’t have player chips or draft capital to trade for a legitimate superstar like Doncic or Jokic so they must be realistically opportunistic when a struggling team like the Bulls needs to dump LaVine’s huge salary.

Let’s take a deeper dive into why Zach LaVine is a better player and fit for the Lakers than Russell Westbrook, what an acceptable Lakers/Bulls trade would look like, and how good the Lakers’ roster and rotation would be.

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Zach LaVine Is Not Russell Westbrook

Let’s start with the obvious: Zach LaVine is not Russell Westbrook, whose poor ball shot selection, inane ball security, and abysmal shooting made him a terrible fit next to superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Four years younger than Russ was when traded to L.A., the 28-year old LaVine is a better fit as a third star on the Lakers than Russ was because his elite 3-point shooting gravity could unleash superstars James and Davis.
Zach LaVine gives the Lakers an All-Star shooting guard who can give the starting lineup 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game to make the team less dependent on soon-to-be 39-years old superstar LeBron James.

LaVine’s a career 38.2% high-volume 3-point shooter who averaged over 37.5% on 7 to 8 attempts per game over last four seasons before getting off to a slow start this season and shooting just 33.6% from deep.
The Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis desperately need an elite high volume, high percentage 3-point shooter whom teams have to defend who can create space for James and Davis to attack the rim.

Unlike Westbrook, LaVine possesses the right shooting, playmaking, and rebounding skills to fit in as the Lakers’ third star with James and Davis and then move on as the second star with Davis when James eventually retires. Fortunately for the Lakers, they already probably know what LaVine is willing to do to fit in with the Lakers because of their close relationship with Klutch Sports Group, who’re the agents for James, Davis, and LaVine.

A Lakers trade for LaVine was predicted when Zach signed with Klutch Sports Group in 2021. With the right mindset and mentality, Zach could become the uber-athletic long-range assassin the Lakers have long coveted

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An Acceptable Lakers/Bulls Trade

The trade Lakers’ reporter Eric Pincus thinks is ‘most practical’ for the Lakers sends D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and a lightly protected 2029 first round draft pick to the Bulls for Zach LaVine.

What makes the trade work for the Lakers despite LaVine’s $40.0 million salary this season and the $178.1 million remaining on his 4-year contract, is they’re only giving up two rotation players and one first round pick.
Because of the size of LaVine’s contract and lack of competing teams, the Lakers shouldn’t be willing to give up Austin Reaves or include pick swaps. If they need a sweetener, include Max Christie and a couple of seconds.

Giving up just two rotation players means the Lakers will lose a net of one rotation player when they trade Zach LaVine for rotation players D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura plus non-rotation players Hood-Schifino.
That would let L.A. retain a deep 11-man rotation with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Zach LaVine, Austin Reaves, Cam Reddish, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Taurean Prince, Christian Wood, and Jaxson Hayes.

Strategically, the Lakers know there will be a risk trading for LaVine. The money could seriously limit future options. LaVine’s also injury prone like James and Davis and he could run into problems fitting with the Lakers. Hopefully, salary cap increases will normalize Zach’s contract, he and the rest of the team will remain healthy, and the fit with the Lakers will be seamless and complement and unleash LeBron and AD to be their best.

Zach LaVine is not Russell Westbrook. If the Bulls are willing to trade Zach LaVine for D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and a 2029 first round pick, that’s an gamble the Lakers should not pass up.

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Post-Trade Starting Lineup & Rotation

The key to a successful trade for Zach LaVine is the Lakers ending up with a dramatically upgraded starting lineup and still being able to field a deep and diverse 10 or 11-man rotation despite paying for three max superstars.

A Lakers’ starting lineup with LeBron James at point guard, Zach LaVine at shooting guard, Cam Reddish at small forward, Jarred Vanderbilt at power forward, and Anthony Davis at center could be among the best in the NBA.
James, Davis, and LaVine give the Lakers’ starting lineup a trio of lethal offensive weapons while Reddish and Vanderbilt give them a duo of lock-down point-of-attack defenders to throw at opposing teams’ backcourts.

Bench depth and diversity matter. Post-trade, the Lakers primary backups would be Gabe Vincent at the one, Austin Reaves at the two, Taurean Prince at the three, Christian Wood at the four, and Jaxson Hayes at the five.
The Lakers would also have Max Christie, who at best could work his way into the rotation and at worst be insurance in case some player got injured, and they have an edge over other contenders in signing buyout candidates.

If there’s concern about the Lakers’ post-trade roster, it’s that the Lakers have four key players in Reddish, Prince, Wood, and Hayes for whom they don’t have Bird rights and could easily lose to free agency next summer. Fortunately, the Lakers have developed a reputation as the best landing spot for struggling free agents looking to redeem their games and brands playing with James and Davis under the bright lights of Los Angeles.

Zach LaVine is a better fit as a third star for the Los Angeles Lakers than Russell Westbrook was because he’s a career 38.2% 3-point shooter whose 4 rebounds and assists per game would reduce dependence on LeBron James