With the 2024 NBA free agency on the horizon, Zach LaVine and Trae Young's ties to the Los Angeles Lakers have resurfaced. With teams in both leagues already dealing with big-name players, the onus now falls on the Lakers, who haven't hit the trade button yet. The Bulls reportedly offered LaVine to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins, but the deal didn't go through. That made the guard a Lakers gossip again, and Young, who left Krach to join CAA, was once again linked with the Purple and Gold.
According to the latest NBA trade report, management has made potential trades with the Hawks and Bulls as the third superstar in addition to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
"The Lakers have discussed the possibility of trading Trae Young and Zach LaVine with the Hawks and Chicago. Nothing is imminent, but Los Angeles sees these options as the only way to boost the onboarding of "star" talent. # NBA”
Contracts aside, the question mark will be about the fitness of one or both of the players. While they did solve the shooting problem and were guaranteed to score, both LaVine and Young were average defensively, which could hinder the team's defensive plan.
Earlier, it was reported that a deal between Los Angeles and Young was unlikely to happen after the 25-year-old Young left his Krach relationship. He averaged 25.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 10.8 assists per game while shooting 43.0 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from three-point range. He has only played in 54 games this season, and Atalanta finished the season with a 36-46 record and missed out on the playoffs.
Due to a foot injury, LaVine withdrew from the game halfway through the season. He played in 25 games for the Bulls this season, averaging 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
Can the Lakers benefit from a trade for Zach LaVine or Trae Young?
While the addition of any player solves the third "star" goal, the move doesn't necessarily mean that the Los Angeles Lakers win a championship. Especially if Zach LaVine has another injury-ridden season, or when Trae Young disappears on the defensive end. Outside defense has been one of the Lakers' problems, and neither player meets the requirements of defensive ability. Their offense is unitized.
However, in their favor, both LaVine and Young can step up their offense, especially in the absence of James. JJ Redick's game plan will involve more Davis as he has made it clear that Davis will be the centerpiece of the Lakers' offense, and Young's playmaking ability and LaVine's key outbursts will make them a promising addition. But only time will tell if management actually decides to add one of these players, and the cost of bringing them to the Los Angeles Lakers.
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