Zach LaVine has been linked to the Lakers ever since it became apparent he wanted to leave Chicago.
All signs suggest LaVine and other Bulls players are miserable in Chicago, with the team slipping to 5-13, which leaves them as the 13th seed in the Eastern Conference.
Now, a fresh report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania has breathed new life into the LaVine-to-Lakers rumors.
“I expect them to express interest in Zach LaVine, but he’s making almost $40 million,” Charania said on FanDuel TV. “And so to total the salaries, to reach that amount in a trade, guys like D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, they are not both trade-eligible till mid-January.
Shams added that the Bulls were bound to want Austin Reaves in return for LaVine.
“And so the Bulls — I’m sure — would covet Austin Reaves in any potential Zach LaVine trade as any team would. If you’re the Lakers and you’re out there trying to pursue a third star, whether that’s Zach LaVine, anyone else that becomes available, the player that teams will ask about is Austin Reaves 100 percent.”
The Lakers should be highly motivated to make a move, considering the team has been average at best with a 10-8 start to the season.
They don’t have time to waste, considering LeBron James turns 39 years old in December and has a player option for next season, meaning he could leave if he wanted to.
And while LeBron appears to have established roots in LA, he can always hold the threat of leaving over the Lakers’ head.
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