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Imaginative Lakers-Bulls Trade Could Lift LA To Top

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) moves the ball up court against Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15)

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the Los Angeles Lakers’ can’t figure out the best backcourt combination.

Ahead of the 2024-25 season, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said that LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura would be the team’s starters. Russell’s lackluster performance forced L.A. to pivot, promoting Cam Reddish to the starting lineup. Russell is more skilled, polished, and statistically productive than Reddish. Yet, he lacks fervor and focus at the defensive end, and Reddish doesn’t.

The complication is that Reddish doesn’t take enough pressure off of Reaves in the backcourt. When he’s off-ball, he’s often spotting up, and is shooting a sparkling 60.0 percent from three this season. When he’s making plays with the ball in his hands, he’s hesitant to do too much, but skilled enough to do it all. He just isn’t reliable enough to have a higher usage role.

Imaginative Lakers-Bulls Trade Could Lift LA To Top

In an effort to solve their perimeter problem, Los Angeles could start Dalton Knecht.

The rookie marksman has been far more efficient than Russell, converting 44.0 percent of his threes to Russell’s 28.1 percent. He’s been more assertive than Reddish, averaging 10.5 three-point attempts per 100 possessions to Reddish’s 3.1. The defense would be vulnerable to quicker and shiftier players. However, Hachimura’s defensive versatility could help the Lakers hide Knecht or Reaves.

Still, while Knecht has been thrilling, it’s asking a lot for a rookie to start and be a key piece for a title-contender.

Excelling in November is far different than doing it the playoffs. If L.A. could bring in a more seasoned player, particularly one with a history of being featured, it would take pressure off of everyone. With James’s age, Davis’s health, and Reaves’s inability to truly cement himself as a top option, being able to turn to an established star has a certain appeal.

Lakers Starter, Zach LaVine?

Zach LaVine and Billy Donovan might be co-parenting the young Chicago Bulls right now, but they’re bound to be split up by the end of the season. Though LaVine’s contract is still an unattractive commodity, his play this season has been a terrific reminder of how talented he is. His buy-in, not just in terms of defense and decision-making but the team’s direction, demonstrates his professionalism.

If the Bulls didn’t also have Coby White to consider, Chicago might just hold onto him. However, that’s not their reality. Heading towards a youth movement, veterans like LaVine and Nikola Vucevic have officially been on the trade block for months, if not longer.

Despite being linked to LaVine, who attended local UCLA, the Lakers haven’t bitten yet. Nonetheless, circumstances are now bringing them together. A sharpshooter, slasher, and playmaker of LaVine’s caliber is just what the doctor ordered for Los Angeles.

As previously stated, the Lakers need someone to relieve the burden being placed on Reaves, James, and Davis. Averaging 22.7 points (on 44.4 percent shooting from three) and 3.9 assists per game this season, LaVine certainly does that. He’s a tier below Reddish defensively and that will be noticeable, but he can hold his own when fully engaged.

Nikola Vucevic — X-Factor

If the Lakers could get the Bulls to send over Vucevic too, it would solve multiple issues.

In terms of the transaction itself, Chicago could try to extract two first-rounders from L.A., which is all they have to give. LaVine’s playing well, but the Bulls would be driving a hard bargain if they wanted two firsts for him given the value placed on those picks. Adding in a resurgent Vucevic would make such a deal a lot easier to stomach.

Additionally, the LaVine and Vucevic’s high salaries are more appealing together than apart. This is because L.A. has several players under contract who aren’t doing much more than collecting checks. It’s not Jarred Vanderbilt nor Christian Wood’s fault that they can’t stay healthy. However, Russell probably isn’t the only player who should be moved, but Vanderbilt, Wood, and Gabe Vincent too.

Hachimura will still have to be included in the deal to make salaries match, but the Lakers can swallow the loss.

Averaging 20.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists per game, 0.9 blocks per game this season, Vucevic is turning heads with his marksmanship, as he’s shooting 45.8 percent from three. His ability to score inside and out is a weapon that Redick would probably like to utilize. It does increase the likelihood that he and Davis could share the court together. More importantly though, it allows the Lakers to run a constant five-out offense that allows them to take advantage of their body and ball-movement.

Lastly, given L.A.’s longstanding interest in adding a more burly big man, Vucevic’s 6-foot-10 and 260-pound frame fits the bill. It’s worth noting Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has averaged just 15.0 points per game against the Bulls since Vucevic’s arrival.

Picture of Quenton S Albertie

Quenton S Albertie

Quenton Albertie, a native of Ft. Hood, TX, is a credentialed media member with work featured on SLAM Magazine, Sports Illustrated, USA TODAY and other major publications. Currently residing in Atlanta, GA, Albertie’s favorite teams are the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Broncos.

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