Unable to find a trade worth giving up picks, the Los Angeles Lakers are now facing a critical decision whether to stand pat and run it back next season with the same roster or go all-in to win a long-shot championship.

The pressure is growing for Rob Pelinka to upgrade the Lakers’ starting lineup and rotation to give new coach JJ Redict a roster that can compete and LeBron James and Anthony Davis an opportunity to win another ring. Rob has no one but himself to blame for the lack of trade opportunities as his overuse of player options has left the team with zero open roster spots and his poor cap management has them stuck just under the second apron.

The Lakers desperately need a major trade to create cap space under the second apron so they can use the $5.4 million TX MLE to sign a backup point guard like Spencer Dinwiddie or shooting guard like Gary Trent, Jr.
If they want to be a real championship contender, the Lakers also need to upgrade their starting lineup and rotation with a strong point-of-attack perimeter defender, bigger 3&D wing, and rim-protecting backup center.

The pressure on Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office to use their 2 first round picks and 3 pick swaps to make a major trade grows every time another available player or free agent coveted by L.A. gets traded or signed.
While the asking price of every Lakers target seems to be multiple draft picks, the Chicago Bulls recently announced that they would be willing to give up two second round picks in a Zach LaVine superstar salary dump.

Zach’s market value has plummeted partly due to his injury history but mostly due to the 3-years and $138 million left on his contract, which limits playoff quality teams from building out their rosters under the new CBA.
But the opportunity to acquire a first round pick, which could be flipped for another starter, as compensation for taking Zach LaVine’s contract could change everything as he’s a great fit on the court for the Lakers.

Here are three compelling reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers’ best option to upgrade their starting lineup and rotation is to trade with the Chicago Bulls for shooting guard Zach LaVine and an unprotected first round pick.

---

1. Opens Door for Another Lakers NBA Championship

The first compelling reason for the Lakers to trade for Zach LaVine and a Bulls’ first round draft pick is it opens the door for the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis to win another NBA championship.

Paying maximum contracts to superstars James, Davis, and LaVine makes it almost impossible for the Lakers to surround their three superstars with a championship caliber roster without going over the dreaded second apron. But adding a legitimate superstar guard like Zach LaVine in his prime who perfectly complements LeBron James and Anthony Davis, plus a first round draft pick to be used for a second starter, is a deal L.A. should not pass up.

The Lakers could use the Bulls’ first round pick to trade for the strong point-of-attack perimeter defender, bigger 3&D wing, or rim-protecting backup center they desperately need to become legitimate contenders.
They could target point-of-attack perimeter defenders like Marcus Smart, bigger 3&D wings like Jerami Grant or Cam Johnson, or rim-protecting defensive backup centers like Walker Kessler or Wendell Carter Jr.

One trade option the Lakers should explore is using the Bulls’ pick to trade with the Jazz for Walker Kessler to be the coveted second big they need to better defend bigger low-gravity centers like Jokic, Sabonis, and Embiid.
The Lakers could offer the Jazz the equivalent of two first round picks for Kessler, giving them the first round pick from the Bulls as well as removing the 1–4 protection from their 2027 first round pick already owned by Jazz.

The Lakers would start a lineup of Austin Reaves, Zach LaVine, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Walker Kessler with a bench mob of Spencer Dinwiddie, Max Christie, Dalton Knecht, Chris Wood, and Jaxson Hayes.
That would be a dramatically stronger starting lineup and rotation than the Los Angeles Lakers currently have and should elevate them to legitimate championship contender status in what will be a wild Western Conference.

Trading with the Chicago Bulls for Zach LaVine and a first round pick to be turned into another starter is the best trade option available to transform the Los Angeles Lakers into legitimate NBA championship contenders.

---

2. Preserves Important Draft Capital for Future Growth

Preserving their current draft capital of two tradable first round picks and three pick swaps is the second compelling reason why the Lakers should trade with Chicago for Zach LaVine plus a Bulls’ first round draft pick.

The Lakers’ ability to respond when player signings or trade opportunities pop up or unexpected team crises suddenly demand action could depend on whether they possess the draft capital needed to make adjustments.
The Lakers’ greatest vulnerability should they trade for Zach LaVine is they would then have three superstars with very troublesome injury histories. Having the draft capital to make a key move if a star goes down is critical.

While it’s not a sure thing the Bulls would be willing to include a first round draft pick as compensation to dump Zach LaVine’s bad contract, Chicago is clearly done with LaVine and vice versa and L.A. may be the only buyer.
The Lakers have a unique opportunity not only to trade for a long coveted third superstar in LaVine, who’s a perfect complement to James and Davis, but ironically be rewarded for doing so with a Bulls’ first round draft pick.

Getting a first round pick for a player for whom you would usually give multiple first round picks tells you everything you want to know about how the new CBA has caused a massive revaluation of NBA player contracts.
While three superstar teams will still happen, their shelf life may well be limited to one or two seasons. In this new NBA world, even the luxury tax immune Golden State Warriors are projected to pay zero taxes next year.

Rob Pelinka should be able to read the tea leaves and see that the financial and competitive landscape of the NBA is changing. Being able upgrade the Lakers while still preserving their current draft capital is a gigantic win.
It not only gives the Lakers the trading chips needed should a chance to get better suddenly emerge but also the insurance that they can make moves should LeBron, Anthony, Zach. or another key player suffer an injury.

Trading for the Bulls’ Zach LaVine and a first round pick to be used to add another quality starter is the Lakers’ best trade option because it preserves their tradable two first round picks and three first round pick swaps.

---

3. Solves Critical Issue of LeBron James’ Replacement

The third compelling reason the Lakers should trade with the Bulls for Zach LaVine and a first round pick is it solves the critical issue of who is going to replace LeBron James when he retires in two or three years.

The two toughest transitions for NBA teams to successfully manage are replacing a head coach or a superstar due to the challenge of coordinating the timing of the departure of the old with the pending arrival of the new.
While LeBron continues to play like a top-ten NBA player, it’s difficult to imagine him playing more than two or three years, which increases the Lakers’ urgency to find another superstar to replace him and pair with AD.

Frankly, it could be years before the Lakers see a better opportunity to land a legitimate superstar to replace LeBron James than trading with the Bulls for Zach LaVine and being giving a first round draft pick as compensation.
It’s an out-of-the-box move that allows the Lakers to upgrade to contender, save their draft capital, and trade for LeBron James’ superstar replacement. Getting that Bulls’ draft pick changes the overall dynamic of the trade.

Trading for Zach LaVine and a pick does not lesson his risk of injury or lighten the financial load his contract has on the team’s cap situation but landing LeBron’s replacement before he retires is franchise-changing.
LaVine has always been a great fit to play as third star with James and Davis and then to pair with AD when LBJ retired. It’s always been the risk of injury with no resources to adjust that negated trading for Zach LaVine.

As the Lakers continue to do nothing as free agency continues, there’s a growing sense Rob Pelinka and the Lakers may not be able to find any viable trades worth gambling their future and giving up their draft capital.
Hopefully, the Lakers will then take a second look at calling up the Bulls and discussing a trade for LaVine where Chicago give Los Angeles a future first round pick as compensation for taking on Zach’s bad contract.

Trading for 29-year old Zach LaVine would give the Los Angeles Lakers the opportunity to replace 40-year old LeBron James with the perfect co-star to pair with 30-year old Anthony Davis when LeBron James eventually retires.

Coach Redick believes Bronny James has a Lu Dort potential👇#LakeShow

“What I’ve communicated to him [Bronny James] is defensive ball pressure. I told him I don’t care if you have 10 fouls, I don’t care if you get blown by. What I do care about is if you’re on the ball and if… pic.twitter.com/d4UHvOmL65

— 🎗NBA•Fan🎗 (@Klutch_23) July 13, 2024