Trade Proposal Sends Zach LaVine To Lakers, D’Angelo Russell To Bulls

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the trade idea. 

“It might pain the Bulls’ brass to let go of LaVine and not get a draft pick in return, but if draft picks were available for the oft-injured and overpaid scorer, a deal surely would have been done by now,” Buckley wrote. “Chicago could instead view a lottery win as enough of a draft reward to just be done with the LaVine era and allow its next ballyhooed prospect to start their career without that cloud of uncertainty hanging above the Windy City.

“This return isn’t much, but it does deliver three usable rotation players who are all on more reasonable contracts than LaVine. Even if the Bulls don’t plan on keeping all of them, each would be far easier to trade than LaVine is now. And if they decide to finally blow up this roster, any one of the three might help deliver assets for an overdue rebuild.”

The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games.

Meanwhile, the Bulls missed the postseason for the second consecutive year. 

LaVine has been linked to the Lakers several times since he has the same agent (Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group) as LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Bulls will try to trade LaVine this offseason after failing to find a taker for him this season, numerous NBA sources told Hoops Wire. 

LaVine played in just 25 games this season. He underwent season-ending right foot surgery in February. The two-time All-Star and two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field, 34.9% from beyond the arc and 85.4% from the free-throw line.

Russell averaged 18.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists for the Lakers this season while shooting 45.6% from the floor, 41.5% from 3 and 82.8% from the free-throw line. He can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason by declining his 2024-25 player option.

Both Vincent and Vanderbilt were injured for most of the season, so neither player has much trade value around the league. 

According to NBA insiders Sam Amick, Anthony Slater and Jovan Buha of The Athletic, LeBron James was in support of the Lakers trading for LaVine in the weeks and months leading into this year’s trade deadline.