DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, and Zach LaVine have been the names of interest coming out of Chicago. With DeRozan’s expiring contract due to end this summer, LaVine’s disgruntled state and seemingly fading fit with the current roster, and Caruso’s undeniable value to a championship-contending team, all three have been the buzz of the NBA for the last month. The Los Angeles Lakers have been a commonly mentioned team as a potential suitor for any combination of the three Bulls’ players, and with Rich Paul being the agent of LaVine, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, that’s gained traction over the previous weeks. Who have the Bulls pinned as their demands in return, and would the Lakers fulfill the requested price tag to acquire one or more of Chicago’s pieces?
All Eyes On Austin Reaves
Chicago is reportedly likely to request Austin Reaves in a deal involving DeRozan and Caruso. The Lakers have expressed more interest in those two than LaVine, seemingly because the fit of the other two is more in line with the current Lakers roster than a sharpshooting guard who is a defensive liability. Reaves would be an intriguing addition for the Bulls. The 25-year-old has increased his usage, scoring, assists, and rebounds in his first three seasons, and in 2023 is averaging nearly 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists per outing. He currently serves as Los Angeles’s sixth man and has the freedom to operate with the second unit, but does earn a closing spot on the floor in tightly contested games.
Earning his stripes in last year’s postseason run, Reaves was also part of Team USA this past summer, where he further solidified his ranking among the NBA’s best young players. He averaged over 21 points and five assists in the Western Conference Finals last year, where the Lakers fell victim to the NBA Champion Denver Nuggets. His playmaking and scoring abilities could be a valuable addition to a Bulls bench without a consistent second-unit scoring option, and at 25 years old, he could also be a running mate for Coby White for years to follow.
DeRozan And Caruso For Reaves
The Lakers have expressed interest in acquiring DeRozan and Caruso, which means a trade is unlikely until January 15th, 2024, when several Lakers players are eligible for exchange. Should each side agree, this includes Reaves and Rui Hachimura, who would also be in the deal for salary purposes.
The Bulls’ assets are at $37 million in salary and must be matched by Los Angeles to execute. This equates to Reaves, $12 million, Hachimura, $16 million, Taurean Prince, $4.5 million, and Jaxon Hayes or another filler player earning at least $1 million this season. An exchange of draft picks could also be expected, seeing that Chicago initially demanded two first-round selections for Caruso’s services. The Lakers may have to toss in a second-round pick in addition to the player package.
Can the Bulls find a better offer than Reaves and roster fillers for DeRozan and Caruso, or is this the best they’ll extract for two of their most coveted trade pieces? Building around 23-year-old Coby White and 25-year-old Austin Reaves could create one of the youngest and best backcourts in the NBA for several years.
