Zach LaVine to the Lakers

Trade Scenarios for NBA Stars Who Need a Fresh Starthttps://t.co/F9UddigCXI via @BleacherReport

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) April 8, 2024

At this point, going after Zach LaVine might not exactly qualify as star-hunting for the Los Angeles Lakers. He only managed 25 appearances this season, and his 19.5 points in those games was his lowest scoring average since 2017-18.

But as recently as February’s trade deadline, LeBron James was reportedly supportive of trading for LaVine, according to Sam Amick, Anthony Slater and Jovan Buha of The Athletic. He’d likely cost a lot less than some of the Lakers’ other rumored targets (like Trae Young).

Given LaVine’s lower production and health issues, L.A. might be able to get him from the Chicago Bulls with little more than salary-matching contracts (which would likely include D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura). With LeBron James nearing the end of his career, the Lakers should have some desire to preserve draft capital.

Given the way L.A. has played since head coach Darvin Ham finally decided to put Hachimura in the starting five with Russell, you might ask why the Lakers would do this at all.

Beyond getting the LeBron blessing, LaVine is bigger than Russell, which could move Austin Reaves to the 1. While he had an underwhelming 2023-24 campaign, LaVine averaged 24.6 points, 4.4 assists and 2.7 threes while shooting 38.2 percent from deep over the two seasons before that.

As a third or fourth option in lineups with LeBron, Anthony Davis and Reaves, LaVine could be even more effective going against opponents’ weaker perimeter defenders.