When you’re a high-profile team playing in one of the biggest sports markets in the world, like the Los Angeles Lakers, you become a destination site for stars around the NBA. It also doesn’t hurt that the Lakers have been one of the most successful franchises in NBA history, with 17 championships to their name and an everlasting hunger to add to the tally.
Last year, the Lakers came up short, losing to the eventual NBA Champions, when the Denver Nuggets swept LeBron James’s crew in the Western Conference Finals. Los Angeles has since made several changes to their roster, including Taurean Prince, Christian Wood, and others.
But there’s still a sense that there’s another step on the ladder the Lakers have yet to reach. On December 15, the NBA’s trade rules loosen, where 81 free agents who signed contracts this past offseason become eligible for a trade. With that, the NBA’s trade market could see some movement.
One player who’s long been mentioned in trade rumors is Chicago Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine. The Bulls are headed for their second consecutive season without a playoff berth, and the 28-year-old may no longer be in the team’s future plans, nor does he want to play for a team that isn’t ready to compete.
According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, LaVine’s representation “obviously wants” to land in Los Angeles with the Lakers due to their ties to the Klutch Sports group, with whom LaVine shares the same agency.
Yet, previous reports suggested there weren’t any teams interested in trading for LaVine, and that may not change after Dec. 15 either. For now, LaVine is sidelined with a foot injury. Yet, it’s possible the Lakers and Bulls reconnect on trade talks later this season, especially if L.A.’s front office is open to moving on from D’Angelo Russell.
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