Anonymous NBA executive dishes Lakers' only option for offseason trade ahead of 2024-25 season
The LA Lakers' offseason was eventful. LeBron James signed a two-year extension, Bronny James got drafted and JJ Redick was named the new coach. Although the Lakers did not make a big splash in the trade market to acquire another star, Los Angeles Times' Dan Woike reported that an anonymous NBA executive advised the organization to give the Chicago Bulls a call for Zach LaVine.
LaVine has been linked to the purple and gold franchise in the past, given some reports from Chicago Sun-Times' Joe Cowley regarding friction with the Bulls' front office. He presents an upgrade offensively for the team and alleviates some of the shotmaking responsibilities off of LeBron James' shoulders.
A suitable trade package must also be in order if the Lakers want to pursue LaVine before the upcoming season commences.
"One conversation I had last week ... this West executive understands the Lakers' situation pretty well," Woike said, "for someone outside the organization, said he'd point them in a direction they were rumored to be headed in 10 months ago. 'I'd call Chicago and make a move for Zach LaVine,' the executive told me."
LaVine was originally acquired by Chicago in 2017 and was envisioned as a core piece of the franchise for years to come. With season after season of disappointing results, some fans and analysts have pondered about the two-time NBA All-Star's future with the team.
He has already played seven seasons in Chicago, averaging 24.2 points (47.1% shooting), 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka reportedly didn't contact Klay Thompson directly before joining the Dallas Mavericks
The Lakers are considered one of the most celebrated NBA franchises in league history. People associate the LA squad with winning, but the franchise has struggled to return to the mountain top after its 2020 championship run.
It has put the front office and the players in a position for a suitable solution, such as acquiring quality players to reshape the roster. Klay Thompson could have been part of the purple and gold. However, The Athletic's Sam Amick reported that Lakers GM Rob Pelinka was not in contact with the guard outside of his agent.
The report was also shared by NBA analyst Nick Wright on FS1's "First Things First."
"The Athletic reported that Rob Pelinka never actually got Klay on the phone," Wright said. "He got his agent on the phone. So while Michael Finley and Nico Harrison are sitting at dinner with Klay Thompson, Rob Pelinka is sitting like, 'Straight to voicemail, what's going on?'"
Pairing Thompson alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis would make some noise in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, that tandem did not come to fruition.