Pregame @SportsCenter hit with @KevinNegandhi on the Lakers’ current starting lineup iteration. Plus a couple of names they could target in trades - and another name that they likely won’t
For the last few months, there has been seemingly endless speculation and rumor about Zach LaVine, currently of the Chicago Bulls, joining the Los Angeles Lakers. Ever since it was revealed that the Bulls are open to trading LaVine, the Lakers have seemed like a prominent frontrunner to land him.
But speaking on ESPN on Thursday night, Dave McMenamin said that the Lakers are no longer interested in pursuing LaVine.
McMenamin said:
"A big name on the similar level of a Pascal Siakam that we've heard for months associated with the Lakers is Zach Lavine, but I'm told that's not happening. Laker fans, if you're thinking about the UCLA Bruin coming back to Los Angeles to help this team, don't count on it. You're gonna look at the Lakers serving the market for point guard help."
The addition of LaVine could have helped the Lakers when it came to offense, but it could have hurt them in other ways.
Most notably, LaVine comes with a huge contract and the Lakers would be on the hook for millions over the next few years. Additionally, while he has a strong presence on the offensive end of the floor, LaVine has never been a dominant defender. In many ways, a deal for LaVine would have felt a lot like the one that acquired Russell Westbrook and the Lakers don't want a repeat of that.
All season long, Lakers fans have been hoping that the team could enhance its defensive abilities so adding LaVine would have been a very expensive endeavor that wouldn't have addressed their biggest issue.
As noted by McMenamin, the Lakers have other plans now that they have moved on from LaVine. They still have their ear to the ground and are looking for point guards who could bolster the roster. According to reports, Tyus Jones and Collin Sexton are just two of the players who could be signed by the Lakers in the days ahead.
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