There was a time when Zach LaVine and the Los Angeles Lakers seem destined to join forces. The two-time All-Star has been linked to Los Angeles in trade rumors for roughly a year, with speculation perhaps inaccurately extending the timeframe within which they rang true.
As the Lakers weigh their options on the trade market and LaVine nears a potential split with the Chicago Bulls, however, a potential union has once again entered the public consciousness.
LaVine is one of the most compelling players in the NBA. Standing at 6'5" and 200 pounds with a 6'8.25" wingspan and breathtaking athleticism, he's the perfect combination of explosive and skilled in a modern era that has been tailor-made for his brand of offense.
As such, it surprised few when Shams Charania and Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic reported in November of 2023 that the Lakers were interested in trading for LaVine to create a new big three.
Unfortunately, LaVine went down with a season-derailing foot injury just over two weeks after the report was published. He returned for a stretch of seven games in January, but a sprained ankle and continued discomfort in his foot ended his season before the month could end.
Even still, the 29-year-old is widely accepted as one of the most dynamic scoring threats in the NBA—and thus, the Lakers' current dilemma has been epitomized.
Zach LaVine makes sense on paper—but is that enough?
The Lakers are in the midst of an extended period of roster deliberation that centers around how to best support Anthony Davis and LeBron James without sabotaging a future beyond them. It's an enviable task, as many general managers would give their pension to hitch their wagon to a Hall of Fame duo coming off of All-NBA seasons.
In the case of Rob Pelinka, however, past miscalculations have resulted in a nonexistent margin for error—perhaps the only reason the Lakers haven't yet traded for LaVine.
On paper, LaVine is the perfect fit alongside Davis and James. He averaged 25.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.7 three-point field goals made on .477/.388/.838 shooting between 2018-29 and 2022-23, including a peak of 27.4 points per game in 2020-21.
If that version of LaVine were to show up in Los Angeles, the Lakers would become instant contenders with three All-Stars who can all drop 25-plus points in their sleep.
Unfortunately, paper success only counts in fantasy sports. The reality of trading for LaVine is that his injury history and salary would require the Lakers to gamble on a player performing at a higher level than they were the season before they acquired them.
Had the Lakers not given up first-round draft picks in trades for D'Angelo Russell, Dennis Schröder, and Russell Westbrook since 2020, a LaVine trade might've made sense—but context is key.
Lakers have given themselves no margin for error
Even if the Lakers manage to avoid parting with future draft picks, LaVine boasts a $43,031,940 salary for the 2024-25 season. Looking past the possibility that his injuries could persist and he'd have three seasons and just under $138 million remaining on his contract, Los Angeles has limited options as far as sufficient salaries to make a trade align are concerned.
Optimism says the Lakers could keep their core intact and send Chicago a package of D'Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and Christian Wood—but how realistic is that really?
Suppose the Bulls would say yes in a desperate attempt to trade LaVine, and Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report has reported that they're eager to move his salary, how much better would that make the Lakers? It's easy to disregard LaVine's injury history in theory, but what if their new $138 million man goes down again?
It's a possibility with any player, but the Lakers have less flexibility than most considering Davis and James have missed at least 25 games three times each since they became teammates in 2019.
It's an intriguing thought that the Lakers could go all-in on a title in 2024-25, but if it doesn't work, they would be left in a state of long-term disarray. It's a bleak outlook on how LosAngeles can move forward, but past actions have positioned it to operate with no room for mistakes.
LaVine is the shining example of how significant the impact of those misfires has been.