There’s a snag with a Zach LaVine-to-Lakers deal.
NBA reporter Chris Haynes on B/R Live confirmed that the Lakers and Sacramento Kings are two teams with interest in the Bulls star.
Haynes added that Chicago is prepared to offload LaVine, but doesn’t want to get “killed” in the trade, which leads to an issue with a potential LA deal.
Haynes reports any swap would the Lakers would need to include Austin Reaves going back to the Bulls, however LA isn’t believed to be prepared to give away the guard.
“From what I’m told, the Lakers are not interested at all in moving Austin Reaves. This is going to be something that’s tough and that possibly goes down to the wire,” Haynes said.
It means the two teams could be too far apart on a potential trade by the February 9 trade deadline.
The Lakers this past off-season re-signed Reaves, 25, to a four-year $56 million extension in one of the franchise’s key moves after he played a key role in their 2023 playoff run to the conference finals.
Even if LA was prepared to trade Reaves, it’d need to hand over other pieces too – potentially D’Angelo Russell or Rui Hachimura – to make the salaries match.
The Bulls’ win over Philadelphia on Tuesday saw them improve to 6-3 since LaVine has been sidelined with a foot injury – and 11-17 overall to revive their season.
‘BIDDING WAR’ FOR MITCHELL AS INTEREST INTENSIFIES
The New York Knicks have been known to have long held interest in Donovan Mitchell, but they suddenly have competition for the superstar guard.
ESPN’s Brian Windhost revealed on The Hoop Collective Podcast that the Knicks and Brooklyn Nets are “riding on the line” in a potential “bidding war” and would have the best chances of re-signing the 27-year old should Cleveland trade him.
Mitchell, a New York native, had interest from the Knicks when Utah put him on the trade block last year before Cleveland ultimately won over his services after handing a juicy package including Lauri Markkanen, three first-round picks and two pick swaps.
But a return to his homeland could be in the cards, with Mitchell in the second-year of a $163 million deal running until his 2025/26 season – a deal that has a player option for that last season.
“I would say the Knicks and the Nets are riding on the line,” he said. “Those two teams where I think Donovan would have a chance of re-signing. If they got into a bidding war, I think that could be interesting.”
Beyond New York and Brooklyn, Windhost added that the Miami Heat also have interest in Mitchell along with “at least two other teams” in the Southwest Division, per Nets Daily. The rest of the Southwest Division includes Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte and Washington.
The Knicks would likely have the most appealing assets of any side in a potential trade, having accumulated a host of draft picks in recent years.
But as the list of potential suitors seems to grow, many possibilities appear to be on the cards.
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