The Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls are two teams that see their 2023-24 NBA seasons very differently.
While L.A. being 15-14 as compared to Chicago being 13-17 doesn’t make it seem as though there is a ton of separation between the two squads, perception-wise there is. The Lakers view themselves as a title contender; the Bulls see themselves as a group on the verge of a rebuild.
Because of that, ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline, Chicago is regarded as a seller and the Lakers are regarded as buyers.
While the Bulls have unofficially put multiple players on the trade block over the past month, Zach LaVine is the one most closely linked to the Lakers.
This week Jovan Buha of The Athletic, revealed what Los Angeles’ high-end offer to the Bulls for LaVine would be.
“For LaVine specifically, I think the Lakers would consider a D’Angelo Russell-centric deal, but I don’t think they’d throw in much more than a combination of salary filler (Rui Hachimura and/or Gabe Vincent), a young prospect (Max Christie or Jalen Hood-Schifino) and a protected pick (2029 or 2030 first rounder),” Buha said.
“The Lakers would fight to keep Hachimura and Christie, to be clear. But I see that offer on the high end of what they’d be willing to give up.”
L.A.’s front office has also put its foot down and proclaimed that one player is officially off limits in any potential deal.
The Bulls, meanwhile, have steadfastly been open about what they would demand from the Lakers in any prospective LaVine trade.
LaVine has made it clear that Los Angeles is one of four landing spots he would prefer to end up in, but he seems to understand that nothing here is guaranteed.
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One way or another, it seems like a foregone conclusion that LaVine will be playing elsewhere once the NBA Trade Deadline comes and goes.
The only question now is where that ‘elsewhere’ will end up being.
Will the Lakers and Bulls be able to make something happen for LaVine? One way or another an answer will emerge over the next couple of weeks.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
