With the Chicago Bulls struggling mightily and the Los Angeles Lakers playing inconsistently, it's no surprise to see rumors of Zach LaVine moving to the Lakers popping up again. If anything, it's shocking they haven't been stronger over the past two weeks.
LaVine has long been tangled in Lakers trade rumors. This makes sense, given his past with the UCLA Bruins and the fact that he shares agents with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and is represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports.
Why the Lakers shouldn't trade LaVine
Typically, all teams that include LeBron make big moves during the season. The never-ending narrative of the greatest small forwards in NBA history — and one of the greatest players overall — needing more help was present again this season.
On paper, trading LaVine might make sense, especially for a team like the Los Angeles Lakers. However, if we take a deeper look, this may not be the best idea. With that in mind, we'll tell you why Purple and Gold fans should put the LaVine Lakers rumors to rest.
Financial implications
Zach LaVine still has three more years and a player option remaining on his contract. He earns an average salary of $43,031,940 per year, with that number rising to $48,967,380 in his final year. The Lakers are already in a tough spot, money-wise, as they have allocated a lot of money to other Klutch Sports clients.
Luxury taxes aside, the new CBA was created to prevent teams from accumulating three or more large contracts. This could have serious implications for the team in the future, not to mention the fact that they would have to give up a lot of depth to get him.
Immaturity
Zach LaVine had several outbursts during his days in the Windy City, and the Los Angeles media was brutal. He will be monitored in every match, and will be a talking point every time he puts in a poor performance. Will he be able to handle that?
Moreover, he is used to being the primary scorer. He has shown that he can coexist with another player who scores goals and dominates the ball. But what if he's stuck in the corner as the team's third-best player? Will he be able to handle that?
Is he a winner?
LaVine doesn't play defense, and although he's one of the most athletic players in the league, he no longer relies on his jumps and speed as much as he once did. Therefore, his heavy jump shot style rarely translates into winning basketball.
LaVine failed to be a leader and take his team to the playoffs. He's a blank type of guy, and the stat sheet usually doesn't resemble the actual impact he has on the game. That's not what you want as LeBron heads toward the finish line.
Planning for the future
In the same vein, what do you think of this Lakers team in the future? LaVine has some good years left in him, and he will be 32 years old when he becomes an unrestricted free agent, so the Lakers can make the most of his prime years.
But again, getting him would require giving up the Lakers' young players and draft picks. That might be worth it for a dedicated star player who can undoubtedly carry the torch once Anthony Davis and LeBron James can no longer lead the way, and for all the reasons we've already discussed, Zach LaVine is far from that guy.
