Less than a month has passed since the NBA rumor mill resumed its full flurry, with the Los Angeles Lakers at its epicenter. Jovan Buha of The Athletic has only confirmed that the Lakers are interested in trading for LaVine (at the right price). NBA insider Shams Charania initiated the LaVine trade dialogue.
Lakers supporters ought to have anticipated this interest. As a client of Klutch Sports, LaVine has done everything he can to subtly convey to the world his desire to play for the Laker organization.
It shouldn’t matter whether the Bulls are prepared to let go of LaVine in exchange for what they consider to be the “right price” from the Lakers. Los Angeles shouldn’t be involved in trades for LaVine because the team would quickly come to the conclusion that doing so was a grave error.
Although LaVine is well-known and basketball fans in general tend to be drawn to well-known players, there are good reasons why LaVine shouldn’t be wearing purple and gold anytime soon.
For these three reasons, the Lakers should not trade Zach LaVine:
1. It is not a winning basketball player, Zach LaVine
LaVine has two all-star selections to his credit, puts up respectable numbers, and has decent shooting splits that seem to fit in well in Los Angeles. If Lakers supporters have learned anything over the past three years, it is that the story is not always told by simply staring at box score numbers.
LaVine is a player with a high usage rate who, in light of his usage, puts up respectable numbers, but this does not translate into basketball victories. Why has LaVine only ever qualified for one playoff series—a sweep—in his entire career, if he was truly that exceptional? While not everything depends on him, it is rather telling when a “star” is unable to advance to the postseason in a league where more than half of the players qualify.
However, the larger picture is revealed by LaVine’s on-off numbers. Before 2023–24, in seven of LaVine’s nine complete seasons, his teams’ net rating suffered when he was on the court. Even though LaVine is a “star,” he has actually made his teams worse.
2. The contract with Zach LaVine is a disaster waiting to happen.
In addition to earning over $40 million this season, LaVine has two more seasons left on his deal, and he has indicated that he will accept the player option for the 2026–2027 campaign. LaVine’s pay increases annually, reaching a salary of $48.9 million in the year of the player option.
This leads to two issues. To make the money work for LaVine, the Lakers would first need to give up their valuable depth, much like they did with Russell Westbrook. Let’s say goodbye to Jalen Hood-Schifino, Rui Hachimura, and D’Angelo Russell, at the very least.
It would also make it more difficult for the team to assemble a roster in the future. The Lakers will be in the same situation as they were with Westbrook if LeBron James chooses to exercise his player option for the 2024–25 season; they will only be able to add the bare minimum of players.
3. Lakers need to have patience and stay in the long run.
This season, the Lakers are not required to make a trade. Without making a major trade for a star player, this team is competitive enough to challenge for a championship. This team has more than enough depth, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, to turn things around in May and make a run at the championship.
This is not an all-out, do-or-die scenario. If necessary, Los Angeles is able to play around the edges and make moves to enhance this current group of players. The Lakers would be locked in with no flexibility for the next three seasons if they made the bold trade for LaVine.
That is not necessary to do. Rather, the front office must acknowledge that this team can compete on its own and that there will be better options down the road. The Lakers will have the opportunity to acquire another disgruntled star through trade, or perhaps a superstar (Jason Tatum, take note) will become free agent.