3 reasons why LA Lakers should land Zach Lavine at NBA trade deadline
The LA Lakers have lost six out of their last ten games. The Lakers have not found any form of consistency, which is a topic of concern, according to most experts. One change the Lakers can do is to shake up their roster. Although the team had an incredible offseason, it hasn't worked out well. The players they've added haven't contributed a lot this season. Jaxson Hayes, who was signed over the summer, is only averaging three points and less than two rebounds.
Gabe Vincent, currently injured, has been unreliable. He's only played five games for the Lakers this season. For this reason alone, fans are expecting the organization to make changes to the roster.
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Which players can the LA Lakers trade for Zach Lavine?
Zach LaVine is an established star in the league. Trading for him could be tricky, depending on the Chicago Bulls' asking price. The LA Lakers' willingness to trade certain players could also play a significant role in trading for LaVine.
The Los Angeles team should be open to any trades that would guarantee them getting LaVine. The Lakers can trade Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell, who will all be available to trade on Jan. 15, 2024.
The team is expecting Reaves to take his game to another level, but it looks like he hasn't played the way they expected him to. The Lakers should move on and pursue an established star, which is why LaVine seems like the perfect candidate. Here are three reasons why the Lakers should trade for the Bulls star.
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#3 Having a legit Big 3 is easier than forcing it
Since the start of the season, the LA Lakers have forced other players on the roster to step up and become the tertiary option alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But that isn't an easy task to complete. Most of the players in their roster are role players who are accustomed to playing a different role and at a different level.
LaVine, on the other hand, will have an easy job in adjusting to becoming another option offensively. He's already experienced playing as the secondary option with the Bulls and he has performed well. It will be an easier transition for the Lakers to have an official All-Star as their third option.
#2 The Lakers will have another lethal scorer
While the LA Lakers have decent role players that can help them lift the championship, no one outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis can create their shots. The team's third-best scorer is Reaves, who's averaging 15.1 points.
Ideally, the Lakers should have three players who score at least 20 points a game. That alone should be enough for the team to trade for LaVine. He's averaging 20.3 points this season, which could improve in a better setup.
#1 LeBron and AD get another star to help them
James is an aging star. While he's still at the top of his game, it is his 21st season already. Providing him with additional help could help lead the Lakers to a deep playoff run.
Davis, on the other hand, has struggled with his health over the past few seasons. Although he's been healthy for the majority of this year's campaign, preparing for the worst isn't a terrible idea. The additional help that LaVine could provide would take some things off the Lakers stars' shoulders.