Los Angeles Lakers: Should they pursue Zach LaVine in a trade?
By Zane Harris
What It Would Take To Get Zach LaVine
After spending some time on a trade machine, I found three possible options that would work for getting LaVine to the Lakers. Also, even constructing a three-team trade with the Brooklyn Nets as well. LaVine is on a contract where he will be paid 19.5 million dollars a year for the next three seasons. This means the Lakers will have to also go through the challenge of trying to match salaries. Yet again, it is assumed that all players are willing participants in the trade and will not exercise a no-trade clause in their contracts if they have one.
The first deal sends Danny Green, Kyle Kuzma, and Talen Horton-Tucker and a 2023 first-round pick in exchange for Zach LaVine. This trade may be seen as the Lakers giving up too much, however, they are trading for a very young star and will be competing with other teams in trying to trade for LaVine.
This package should be more than enough for the Bulls to accept. They are given good young talent in Kyle Kuzma and Horton-Tucker. On top of this, they will have a first-round pick that could be a high pick depending on what the future holds for the stars in LA. In return, the Lakers will receive Zach LaVine, who theoretically, will be everything that the team wished Kyle Kuzma could be this year. He is a multi-level scorer who would most likely fill Danny Green’s spot at starting shooting guard making the Lakers starting five arguably the best in the league.
The second deal sends Danny Green, Avery Bradley, Kyle Kuzma, a 2022 second-round pick, a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2024 second-round pick to the Bulls in return for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and Daniel Gafford. While the Lakers are giving up more in terms of current players and draft picks in this deal, they get the return of both Kris Dunn and Daniel Gafford, which would make this the most favorable deal for the Lakers.
It would make the core of the team a bit younger and as a result, would improve the Lakers in terms of longevity. Kris Dunn and Daniel Gafford are both on very favorable contracts for the next two seasons. Dunn will be looking for a contract extension soon which could hurt the team’s pockets, however, Gafford is on a near-minimum contract for the next four years. Dunn would be able to fill the role of starting point guard with the absence of Avery Bradley and as before mentioned LaVine would likely become the starting shooting guard. Dunn would be a very exciting young player that the Lakers could develop into one of the better starting point guards in the league.
The third deal while being the most interesting is also arguably the worst deal from the Lakers perspective. It is a three-team trade between the Lakers, Bulls, and Nets. The Lakers would be receiving Zach LaVine. Next, the Bulls would get Talen Horton-Tucker, Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, a 2020 first-round pick from the Nets, and a 2023 first-round pick from the Lakers. Lastly, the Nets would gain Danny Green, Avery Bradley, and Kyle Kuzma. Out of the three teams, it seems as if the Lakers would be giving up the most with the least return, however, they would open roster spots for free agents, and for what it is worth would free up around 2.5 million in cap space. This should only be a last resort for the Lakers if they are sold on LaVine and if they are sold on this pick should push to get a little more compensation through draft picks.