The Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls have been linked for more than a month.
On November 14, The Athletic reported that the Bulls and Zach LaVine showed “increased openness” about exploring a trade with the Lakers among proposed suitors. In a follow-up article, The Athletic reported that the Lakers have greater interest in signing DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso if either player becomes available.
While the Lakers and Bulls played at the United Center on Wednesday night, Lakers beat writer Jovan Buha and Bulls beat writer Darnell Mayberry met for a back-and-forth discussion about the situation.
Here's what they're hearing, what a package might look like, and what they think will happen.
Jovan Buha: Hey Darnell, thanks for doing this. What's the latest you're hearing from the Chicago side about a potential deal with the Lakers?
Darnell Mayberry: All signs point to these teams eventually finding common ground on a deal that works for both sides. The fit as a trading partner was already apparent. But as the season progresses, it seems more important that they agree to a trade.
From the Bulls' perspective, the biggest hurdle is the asking price for LaVine or, as you mentioned, DeRozan or Caruso. LaVine would be their first choice for a move. He has a massive contract that he can't honor as long as the Bulls lose, and with LaVine the Bulls have been stuck in the mud for almost seven seasons.
Now that it is public knowledge that LaVine and the franchise are ready to end their partnership, Chicago no longer appears to have much influence. LaVine's contract alone – he is in the second season of a five-year, $215 million deal – will be difficult for most teams to accept and is likely to limit the Bulls' available trade offers.
The problem is that Chicago's front office has quickly developed a reputation for overvaluing its own company in trade discussions. It could be the biggest hurdle to a Bulls-Lakers blockbuster. To date, Chicago has demanded the highest value for suboptimal parts. But after three failed seasons, the Bulls' belief in continuity has been exhausted. A trade is imminent. It just depends on how sweet the deal is that the Lakers can offer.
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Many fans like Austin Reaves in Chicago, Jovan. How bad do the Lakers want LaVine?
Buha: Not much has changed on the Lakers’ front. They remain patient and use the next few weeks to determine the gaps in their squad and the extent of the upgrades required.
My understanding is that the Lakers still prefer DeRozan and/or Caruso given their contracts, as previously reported. The Lakers have favored year-to-year flexibility over long-term salaries since their championship run in 2020, especially after Russell Westbrook's disastrous move. DeRozan has an expiring contract worth $28 million. Caruso is making $9.5 million this season and $9.9 million next season, both team-friendly numbers considering he is one of the best defensive players in the league. LaVine, meanwhile, represents a significant signing for a player who was a borderline All-Star at best.
Of course, LaVine is a customer of Klutch Sports, and that factor cannot be overlooked. The partnership between the Lakers and Klutch, the powerhouse agency led by LeBron James' childhood friend Rich Paul, has been mutually beneficial over the past five years. The Lakers have understandably had an affinity for Klutch players during James' tenure and currently have four on their roster (James, Anthony Davis, Cam Reddish, Jarred Vanderbilt). James has also been a long-time fan of LaVine and DeRozan is worth it.
For LaVine specifically, I think the Lakers would consider a D'Angelo Russell-centric deal, but I don't think they're bringing in much more than a combination of salary fillers (Rui Hachimura and/or Gabe Vincent) and a young player would prospect (Max Christie or Jalen Hood-Schifino) and a protected pick (first-rounder 2029 or 2030). To be clear, the Lakers would fight to keep Hachimura and Christie. But I see this offer at the high end of what they would be willing to give up.
Still, I don't think they want to bid against themselves and would need another bidder to increase their offer to more than a minimum package. They feel like they would be doing the Bulls a favor by taking LaVine's salary off their books and starting a rebuild if the Bulls ultimately go in that direction.
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As I reported, Los Angeles is not interested in trading Austin Reaves for LaVine. After a difficult start by his standards, which included a move to the bench, Reaves has regained his performance from last season, scoring 20 or more points in five of the last seven games (including the In-Season Tournament championship).
I could imagine a similar offer or framework for a DeRozan deal or even a DeRozan-Caruso combo package where the players involved are salary-matched. The Lakers only have one moveable first-round pick.
What do you think Chicago would like to see in LA? Does something like what I've laid out sound realistic?
Mayberry: The league-wide lack of interest in LaVine is a rare example of a team enduring a major contract extension, only to later be unable to sell that contract. Most would agree that LaVine received his maximum contract and that it was a smart decision for the Bulls to retain him two summers ago. But that came with the understanding that a trade was always possible if things didn't work out. If the Lakers don't covet LaVine, the Bulls could be left to deal with their frustrated star.
Meanwhile, the Bulls' strong play of late has shown the team's management (and anyone paying attention) how much better Chicago functions without LaVine. The Bulls are 6-3 in their last nine games, have a net rating of plus-3.1 and have outscored their opponents by 31 points during that span. The whispers about whether the Bulls even need LaVine are getting louder.
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As for your potential deal framework, the Bulls won't be thrilled, but it's the kind they may have to accept. In the race for LaVine, the teams don't trip over each other. DeRozan, who continues to perform at a high level, turns 35 next summer and is seeking a significant extension. Again, the Bulls can't be picky. Their options are to retool now and collect some assets, even if they're not perfect, while they can, or stick with the status quo and let valuable players walk for free – while the team continues to be far behind the competition .
This dilemma should force the Bulls to be flexible with the players they receive in a trade, although Coby White's stellar play could make the Bulls think twice about bringing in Russell. A more important issue is the distant draft pick. So far, the Bulls have not been interested in a long-term (or short-term) capital withdrawal. The Bulls front office hasn't shown much interest in long-term planning. It is a management team where everything is clear. The Lakers' lack of immediate draft capital could be the dealbreaker. But the Bulls don't have many better options.
Can you imagine that in a potential trade of this magnitude, the two teams would need a third or even fourth team to keep all parties happy? I feel like completing this deal will require some complexity.
Buha: Let's agree. I think if it does happen, it'll probably lead to this: a three- or even four-team deal.
Of course, the more teams involved, the more moving parts there are and the greater the challenge of keeping everyone involved happy. But I could see Russell being rerouted to a third team looking for an upgrade in the starting backcourt in exchange for more immediate draft capital. Although Russell has been on a lull lately, he is still averaging 15.8 points and 6.3 assists, along with 39.3 percent from 3-point range. His shot and style of play can help an emerging offense that needs a boost.
I don't see a clear team that fits the bill right now, but there's still a lot of time between now and the February 8th trade deadline – about six weeks. Teams suffer injuries and skids and fall behind in the standings. There are currently more buyers than sellers, but at least a few more sellers will emerge.
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Where are the Bulls with Caruso? I'm not sure NBA Twitter can handle a Caruso-Reaves backcourt, but I'm sure the Lakers would love to reunite with their former guard. The asking price has been reported to be as high as several first-round picks (to your point about the Bulls asking for the moon and overvaluing their players). I'm not entirely sure they'll get that – and certainly not from the Lakers. But are they willing to trade with him? And could this turn into a fire sale if they trade LaVine first?
Mayberry: The Bulls love everything about Caruso, and rightfully so. He is not untouchable. But he is an extremely important link for a team that now desperately wants to win.
Trading Caruso would go against everything the Bulls say they are trying to build an organization. He's the type of player that helps a franchise build and maintain its culture. The fire sale should begin in Chicago as soon as Caruso, not LaVine, is traded.
The price the Bulls are asking for Caruso sounds exorbitant, but that tells you everything you need to know about what he means to the franchise. There aren't many Alex Carusos around. Add to that the team-friendly contract you mentioned, and Caruso is easily the Bulls' best acquisition since their new management team arrived in 2020. Suddenly it becomes easier to understand their infatuation and why the Bulls are reluctant to have him let go .
Two counterarguments worth mentioning are Caruso's injury history and the Bulls' mediocrity. Caruso only appeared in 130 of 193 possible games for the Bulls. It makes sense that the Bulls will eventually get what they can if they keep losing and Caruso can't stay healthy.
Buha: The counterargument underscores the fundamental problem with a Lakers-Bulls deal: The Bulls don't yet have a clear direction and the Lakers have relatively limited resources to persuade Chicago leadership to pull the trigger. Regardless of whether the Bulls want a win-now package to restart their season or a rebuilding package to tear it down, the Lakers may be outbid by a rival suitor.
There's also the question of whether the Lakers need LaVine. The league's 24th-ranked offense could use LaVine's offensive dynamism, but a LaVine-Reaves backcourt would present many of the same problems that have prevented the Lakers from using the Russell-Reaves backcourt together more often. The Lakers' identity is based on size and defense, and they need players who fit that mold.
Ultimately, I think a deal is less likely to happen than recent rumors suggest. Unless the Lakers are the only suitor for LaVine, better offers will be on the table. I also don't think the Lakers will pay the Bulls' high price for Caruso – if the Bulls even consider trading him. DeRozan is the most realistic target, but the LaVine domino likely needs to fall first before the Bulls will consider moving on DeRozan. And I think the haggling over reserves, pick protection and young assets could prevent the two sides from finding common ground.
I'm skeptical that a deal will happen between these two franchises. I think LaVine will end up staying there or going somewhere else.
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(Top photo: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)