Perfect Lakers trade offer for Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso

The Chicago Bulls are exploring trade options with All-Star shooting guard Zach LaVine. According to Shams Charania, the Lakers are one of the teams in the mix for LaVine. With that news, we drew up a potential Lakers trade proposal.

Lakers receive: Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso

Bulls receive: D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and a 2029 unprotected first-round pick

DISCLAIMER: This trade can’t be completed until January 15th due to CBA rules. D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura re-signed with bird rights, which means they are not eligible to be traded until January 15th.

In this trade, the Lakers would be giving up three role players Russell, Hachimura, and Vincent plus their rookie Hood-Schifino and a future first-round pick. Contractually, all these players must be included to match the money.

Chicago could keep Hachimura as a young forward for their core and have Hood-Schifino develop as a young guard. They could reroute Russell and Vincent to other teams for additional young assets and draft capital.

However, there have been rumors that Chicago wants to trade LaVine and retool the team. Russell, Hachimura, and Vincent could all be impactful rotational players for them.

This trade gives the Lakers an All-Star guard who fits well next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

LaVine could alleviate scoring pressure off the star duo. He averaged 25/5/4 last season, shooting 48.5% from the field and 37.5% from three.

He is an excellent three-point shooter on a high volume of shots, which would be pivotal to a struggling shooting team.

LA has a desire to land a star guard to pair with Davis for the future, as James is near the end of his career. LaVine would be a great fit with Davis long-term.

This deal would also bring Caruso back to the Lakers, who was a fan favorite. Caruso was a key role player for the LakeShow on the 2020 championship team.

Caruso is an elite defender who made the All-Defensive Team last season. He is a solid playmaker and shooter on the offensive side of the ball. He has great chemistry with James and Davis, which would be highly beneficial whether he came off the bench or started games.

The package of landing a star scorer in LaVine and an elite defensive player who has experience with the team in Caruso could help the Lakers in pursuit of their 18th title.

LA should not be willing to give up more than this, as they are giving up depth that has been valuable to their rotation.

This trade would ultimately hinge on what the Bulls are looking for in return for LaVine. If Chicago is looking to rebuild, there will be better offers from other teams. However, if they are trying to retool like some reports have stated, this Lakers trade offer could be intriguing for the Bulls.