After the first 19 games of the year, the Chicago Bulls were 5-14 and looked to be on the fast track to a rebuild. Since then, they’ve gone 6-3, but all without star shooting guard Zach LaVine, who’s been out with a foot injury. However, just because they’ve won some games doesn’t mean they should abandon their potential rebuilding plans.
The honest truth is this Bulls roster still isn’t quite good enough to effectively compete. They could sneak into the Play-In Tournament, but past that, the ceiling is low, and resetting the roster is likely still the best pathway forward. That all starts with trading LaVine, and recent reports have stated that to be Chicago’s main focus.
And according to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, one team is a more likely trade destination than the rest. He said that “all signs are pointing to” the Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers working out a deal.
“All signs are pointing to these teams eventually finding common ground on a deal that works for both sides,” Mayberry wrote. “The fit as trade partners was apparent before. But as the season has progressed, it seems imperative that they come together on a trade.”
The Lakers are currently 15-12 on the season and looking to make a playoff push. Adding LaVine to the mix would give them another source of offensive creation – an area where they’ve been lacking.
Plus, LaVine and Anthony Davis could be the future of the team once LeBron James eventually retires.
The most likely return for Chicago seems to be D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and draft capital, but there could potentially be more moving parts involved.
