After signing a $216 million contract with the Chicago Bulls, the unhappy Zach LaVine has found himself in almost every trade scenario made by the media and the Chicago fanbase. With the trade market set last summer by Rudy Gobert and Dejounte Murray of several first-round picks for a lower-tier All-Star, the Bulls could consider trading LaVine if they genuinely do not see him as a max player in this league. Luckily for the Bulls, the Lakers could be desperate enough to mortgage their future to make one last title run around a 38-year-old LeBron James and an injury-prone Anthony Davis. According to Zach Lowe from ESPN, the Lakers view LaVine as a legitimate trade target.
“The name that’s become more interesting to me as this season has gone on and it’s become clearer and clearer that the bulls are not going to get it together is lavine. i know there has been some thought about with people around the lakers as a potential trade slash ‘that’s kind of our cap space acquistion.'” – zach lowe via espn
LaVine’s Connection With The Lakers
- Zach LaVine went to college at UCLA.
LaVine has a soft spot for Los Angeles since he chose to live there during his college days. LaVine is from the west coast area. He went from Minnesota winters to Chicago winters in his NBA career. Moving back to the warm climate might be on his mind.
- Klutch Sports represent Zach LaVine.
The worst-kept secret in the NBA is that Klutch Sports is the agency players tend to gravitate towards if they want to end up in LA or to force a trade. For Zach LaVine, it could be both. Anthony Davis made his way to Los Angeles, which worked well for both teams. If LaVine wants out, even if he’s locked into a five-year deal, Rich Paul is the only guy that can make that happen.
- Zach LaVine is forcing his way to LA, per NBA executives
Sean Deveney, per The Heavy: “LaVine wants to go to the Lakers. That has been pretty clear for a while now. The agents want him to be in Los Angeles, he is a UCLA guy, and they did some rattling about his contract last offseason.”
- Zach LaVine isn’t happy with Billy Donovan.
Typically, a star player buds head with a head coach, which results in a coaching change. What isn’t typical is the front office secretly extending the coach without a media press release, which the Bulls did. It’s doubtful Billy Donovan is going anywhere since the ink on his newly signed extension probably hasn’t even dried yet. LaVine, however, can leave.
- Zach LaVine flirted with the idea of signing with the Lakers in free agency.
The Lakers had no shot of landing LaVine in free agency. That didn’t stop Rich Paul and Zach LaVine from suggesting they wouldn’t. Now that he’s locked into a long-term contract, the Lakers would be more compelled to mortgage their future for a young budding star through the trade market.
- Zach LaVine’s love for Kobe Bryant
Zach LaVine looked at Kobe the same way LeBron James looked at Michael Jordan. LaVine wears the number 8 because of Kobe, which is why LeBron wore 23 for Jordan. Perhaps he’s tired of honoring Kobe by wearing the number 8 and wants to honor him by wearing a Lakers jersey while celebrating a championship victory.
