Shams Charania Provides Update on Lakers’ Potential Interest in Zach LaVine

Los Angeles is expected to be a suitor, but at what cost?

Despite not being at full strength through 18 games of the NBA season, the Lakers have enjoyed a 10-8 start to the year.

Thanks to All-NBA level play from LeBron James, and continued strong play from running mate Anthony Davis, the Lakers have proven that they can be a force in the West if a few role players get healthy, or if they add at the trade deadline.

Could Los Angeles have interest in a Zach LaVine trade with the Bulls? NBA insider Shams Charania expects the Lakers to keep an eye on him at the deadline if they remain a contender.

“I expect them to express interest in Zach LaVine,” Charania said on FanDuel’s Run It Back NBA show on Tuesday. “…The Bulls, I’m sure, would covet Austin Reaves in any potential Zach LaVine trade, as any team would. If you’re the Lakers and you’re out there trying to pursue a third star, whether that's Zach LaVine or anyone else that becomes available, the player that teams will ask about is Austin Reaves, 100%. And to this point, the Lakers have not been inclined to move Austin Reaves. They didn’t put him in a deal for Kyrie Irving. And so for now, I think the Lakers are going to take a prudent approach.”

"I expect them to express interest in Zach LaVine."
- @ShamsCharania

Do the Lakers need a 3rd star??

📺: https://t.co/qYBPWhYgh7 pic.twitter.com/8dszo21Fcu

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) November 28, 2023

Charania noted that Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent, two players who were expected to be key pieces in the Lakers' rotation this season, haven’t played much due to injury. Because of this, Charania expects Los Angeles to remain patient until the trade deadline when hopefully the team is at full health.

Until then, expect Los Angeles to remain in the mix to potentially add another rotational piece, or even a star at the deadline later this winter. However, if they’re going to pursue LaVine, it likely means including Reaves in the package, which to this point, the Lakers appear unwilling to do.