This offseason looks bleak for the Los Angeles Lakers after the most disappointing season in franchise history. Los Angeles still has the bloated contract of Russell Westbrook on the books next season and a hard path ahead to re-opening the title window.
However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel in the form of Zach LaVine. Last week we broke down a potential trade package that would get LaVine to the Lakers. Now, there is even more speculation around LaVine joining LA.
LaVar Ball told David Kaplan in a recent interview that he thinks LaVine will join the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. Laker fans know that Ball spews a lot of nonsense to the media, but he is at least somewhat plugged into the situation in Chicago with his son being a prominent component of the team.
With LaVine being a Klutch sports client, we cannot rule it out. Add the fact that he is an unrestricted free agent and other teams may not want to sign him to a max deal and all of the signs are there for the Lakers to shock the world.
That does not mean it would come easy, though.
Three things, in particular, would have to happen for the Los Angeles Lakers to land Zach LaVine.
The Lakers still have to operate by the rules put out in the CBA and there would be some hurdles that have to be overcome to make the impossible a reality. Crazier things have certainly happened in the NBA with player movement, so never say never.
Let’s dive into the three things it would take for the Los Angeles Lakers to trade for Zach LaVine, starting with the most rudimentary (and foundational) hurdle to overcome.