As has been covered at length this summer, the Lakers‘ only outside additions to their standard roster this offseason came in the form of draftees Dalton Knecht and Bronny James.
“They’re stuck,” one Eastern Conference executive said of the Lakers, according to Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times.
A Western Conference executive who spoke to Woike said the Lakers should consider adding Bulls guard Zach LaVine, who has been the subject of trade rumors for quite some time. LaVine’s contract (he’s owed nearly $138MM over the next three seasons, including a 2026/27 player option) has been a holdup in getting a deal done. If the Lakers were to pursue such a trade, Woike points out that it would have to be constructed around D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura and either Jarred Vanderbilt or Gabe Vincent to match salary since L.A. can’t take in more than it sends out.
The downside would be LaVine’s injury concerns and his questionable fit in a role that would require more from him on defense and less on offense. However, Woike doesn’t get the sense the Lakers are all that interested in LaVine, suggesting that they’re more concerned with seeing how a roster with more continuity performs. Additionally, Woike reasons the Bulls could stand to hold LaVine and try to rebuild his value this season.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- Clippers center Ivica Zubac received a 5% trade kicker as part of his three-year extension, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto (Twitter link). That means if Zubac is traded, he’d be eligible for a bonus worth 5% of the remaining salary on his contract. The highest percentage allowed on a trade kicker is 15%.
- Despite being one of the most efficient three-point shooting teams in the league, the Suns only ranked 25th in attempts, Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports writes. That should change in 2024/25, with Tyus Jones, Monte Morris and a healthy Damion Lee among players who could help in that regard. Bourguet runs through several statistical red flags the Suns should look to address under Mike Budenholzer, including how they attack the rim and playing more in transition.
- In a similar article for PHNX Sports (subscriber link), Bourguet outlines one area for improvement for every player on the Suns‘ roster, excluding rookies and two-way players. For my money, it’ll be interesting to see how Bradley Beal continues to adapt to being an off-ball third option. His scoring decreased last season (to 18.2 PPG) as he played fewer than 60 games for the third straight season. If he’s fully healthy, it will be intriguing to see if he can resemble the form of the player who recorded back-to-back 30 PPG seasons from 2019-21.
The Suns are going to be an interesting team this season… The addition of Tyus Jones should make them a lot more coherent on offence…
The team is only going to go as far as their health can take them… But they should have some fun games when healthy…
Nurkic caps their ceiling tho imo. Non rim protector and while a solid passer for a big man, he doesn’t offer enough else on offense. He also had an unusually healthy year last szn so I’d bet on a decent amount of plumlee starts.
We’ve seen the 5 be many things over the past decade… So with the right scheme…
On paper I agree tho… Nurk is their weak link if everyone is healthy…
Only 2 super teams in the nba: Suns and 76ers
Suns have better bench than 76ers
6th man Beal
7th man G Allen
8th Plumlee
9th Monte Morris
Super teams are more like play in teams Warriors and Lakers than championship teams
Super teams don’t look like 60-win teams like Celtics, Thunder or Wolves
Everyone wants to talk about how Steph Curry’s career is somehow “over” because the Warriors lineup has too much depth and not enough superstars (even though that style worked in 2022 and got them a title), but barely anyone talking about how absolutely awful this Lakers roster is? Lebron will not end his career a Laker, bet on it. He will likely go to GSW to play with his best friend Draymond and Steph, who he clearly enjoyed playing with in the Olympics. It’s such an obvious move and GSW has plenty of assets to make it a fair deal for LAL.
Sounds like YOUR the one that wants to talk about it….all day every day
There’s no mention of GSW in this article, nobody cares about your silly cries
Some people are just stuck in the past…
Bulls should only entertain a lakers trade if they get reaves back for Lavine. Especially if they have to take back DLo, who has negative value. No reason to dump Lavine for nothing, might as well just keep him if you’re not getting anything back for him.
The reason they want him gone is to clear cap space, Dlo, Rui, Vincent etc all have short contracts which can also be flipped easier.
Rui would straight away be a 25mil a night role player, however they don’t really need guards as much. But according to reports no one wants LaVine and the bulls have even been willing to attach first round picks to him to get him out of town
I’d love to just see the Lakers go from broke, Dlo, Rui and Vincent for LaVine, Craig and a first.
Give away Vando, Christie, JHS and a first for Clarkson and Kessler
Reaves LaVine Bron AD Kessler
Clarkson Knetch Craig Wood Williams
Bronny Reddish Lewis … Hayes
Poor defensively on the perimeter but some great defenders in the paint. Win the battle of the boards, no easy inside points and make teams beat you from outside the arc. Then going down the other end you’ve got Bron AD LaVine and Reaves. Off the bench Clarkson gives you buckets, Knetch will light it up, Wood has big games as does Reddish.
Just go all out for it, you’ve got nothing to lose and should it not work you’ve atleast tried
If beal is the 3rd option of course he will not average 30 pts… that 18 pts is high for a 3rd option already. He needs to work on his defense.
Should Beal have the green light in the second untit for Phoenix? Conversation needs to be had Bud, and early, like now.
And Davey J, get off your knee’s. Steph GOAT Curry wasn’t even mentioned in the article or by any poster until you took the shot.
This is the part where I reiterate Warriors are going nowhere fast.
I think it makes a lot of sense to bring Beal off the bench. Tyus Jones starting at the point should give more flow to the offense. Beal could lead the bench unit. I don’t care how much money he makes. Gotta find a way to make the pieces fit
The Suns are getting everything they deserve from the Beal deal. Woof.
Anyone who thinks GSW has good depth have a vivid imagination…do really like the Tyus Jones pickup for Suns… could be the missing piece they needed..