© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Report suggests Los Angeles Lakers would be better off targeting DeMar DeRozan
Lots of NBA teams are monitoring the Chicago Bulls after a recent report by The Athletic revealed their increased openness to trading ace guard Zach LaVine. This has piqued the interest of numerous teams which reportedly include the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
While LaVine would definitely aid a Lakers offense that sputters for points whenever LeBron James sits down, a report by Sports Illustrated’s Rohan Nadkarni suggests the Lakers would be better off targeting another Bulls star.
The Lakers angling to add another star
The Lakers’ offense is struggling to generate points to start the season. The team ranks near the bottom five in offensive rating and is in the bottom half of the league regarding points per game. Trading for LaVine may remedy that as he has averaged more than 24 points per game over his last seven seasons in Chicago. But according to Nadkarni, the Lakers should focus their attention elsewhere.
“Los Angeles currently has an offense in the bottom half of the league, and is getting run off the floor whenever LeBron James sits. LaVine would be a fit here, and playing in front of James and Anthony Davis should help mitigate his defensive struggles. The thing is, if the Bulls are going to blow it up, shouldn’t the Lakers try to hold out for DeMar DeRozan? In fact, the Lakers could try to trade for both DeRozan and Caruso—who combined make less money than LaVine,” Nadkarni wrote.
DeRozan makes more sense
Re-acquiring Caruso would be a boon for the Lakers, as his defensive chops would be just what the doctor ordered for Los Angeles. However, pulling a trade for the former Texas A&M star would be tricky as it has been reported that the Bulls’ asking price is two first-round picks. This leaves DeRozan as the only viable target.
“The bottom line is this: If Chicago is going to become a seller—and if LaVine is gone, it would make sense for at least DeRozan to follow—then the Lakers probably make more sense as a DeMar destination than a LaVine one,” Nadkarni added.
