Lakers News: Why Reporters Are Dubious A Zach LaVine-To-LA Trade Will Happen

Here's why LA won't trade for LaVine.

Your Los Angeles Lakers have a number of roster improvements they need to make in order to compete for an NBA championship. 

Despite having a fairly healthy and solid core of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, and Austin Reaves through the first 40 games of the season, the team is 19-21. 

Trade season is now in full swing, with a number of names popping up in connection with the Lakers, including Dejounte Murray, Zach LaVine, and Alex Caruso. 

I believe LaVine is the best fit, as his high-level shot creation and 3-point shooting fill a major role LA hasn't had filled by guard since Kobe Bryant, as LaVine carries the potential to put up 40 points on a nightly basis while scoring from all 3 levels. 

Unfortunately, obstacles lie in the way. ESPN's Bobby Marks chatted with Micahel Scotto of HoopsHype on a potential LaVine deal: 

I think LaVine, especially after they went through the Russell Westbrook top-heavy roster with three max guys under the old CBA, you’d basically have to trade at least three players, maybe even four, to get the money to work. You’re looking at a combination of Hachimura, Russell, and another guy. They’ve got one first-round pick then can trade in 2029. From what I’ve been told, and certainly things change, there’s no appetite to add a third max guy.

LA's disinterest in adding a third max guy implies that LaVine is off the table, as his $40 million contract would force LA to give up "at least three players, maybe even four," which would gut their roster. I think LaVine at the right price can move the needle, but if the Lakers are forced to give up more than 2 rotation pieces, we may see subtraction by addition, akin to the Russell Westbrook move. 

LaVine would absolutely be a better fit than Westbrook, but if LA is left with just 4 players who can add really any value on the offensive end (LeBron, AD, Reaves, LaVine), that may be insufficient to compete in a high-powered Western Conference.