While landing Zach LaVine through a trade may not single-handedly solve all the Lakers’ problems, it undoubtedly has the potential to greatly benefit them.

The situation for the Los Angeles Lakers is currently quite challenging. They have only managed to win three out of their last twelve games following their NBA Cup victory. This lackluster performance has led to reports of a disconnect between head coach Darvin Ham and the players in the Lakers’ locker room.

It seems that Ham is now under pressure as a coach, as he is not without flaws. He has made some perplexing decisions, like having D’Angelo Russell come off the bench when Austin Reaves was already leading the second unit. However, it is worth noting that this is the same coach who had the audacity to bench Russell Westbrook last season, and he was able to make the right moves to spark the Lakers’ impressive turnaround in the middle of the 2023 season.

Currently, the Lakers are in dire need of shaking up their roster. In order to maximize the talents of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they must surround them with versatile players. Unfortunately, players like Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, and Jarred Vanderbilt are hindering the team’s offense because they lack the ability to create scoring opportunities for themselves or their teammates.
Therefore, it is highly likely that the Lakers will not remain complacent leading up to the trade deadline. Rumors have surfaced connecting them to All-Stars Zach LaVine and Dejounte Murray. However, LaVine appears to be the more feasible acquisition and would bring great value to the team. Incorporating LaVine into the roster would complement James and Davis due to the following reasons:
First and foremost, the Lakers are in desperate need of high-quality scoring.

In the current basketball season, the Lakers find themselves ranked 24th in offensive rating, with a relatively low scoring average of 111.9 points per 100 possessions. While having a top-notch offense isn’t a strict requirement for championship contention, it certainly gives teams an advantage. Ultimately, what matters most is outscoring the opposing team.

Surprisingly, the Lakers’ strategy of relying heavily on defensive-minded players hasn’t yielded the desired results. While they do possess a solid 10th place ranking in defensive rating, they are allowing a disappointing 113.0 points per 100 possessions. This suggests that the Lakers lack the necessary balance in their roster to justify allocating significant playing time to players who excel in only one aspect of the game.

In the realm of basketball, there is a concept known as the defensive feedback loop. Simply put, the more a team scores on offense, the more it aids their defensive efforts. By efficiently making field goals, earning free throws, and minimizing turnovers, a team can effectively set up their halfcourt defense and boost their overall game. However, not every team, such as the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks, may subscribe to this principle.

If the Lakers struggle to score, it provides opportunities for opposing teams to fast break and leads to increased fatigue as the team has to hustle back on defense to prevent easy baskets. The current balance between offense and defense for the Lakers is not in sync, and injuries are not the only factor contributing to this issue.
That’s why it’s puzzling that Darvin Ham has decided to bring D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves off the bench. With LeBron James, who is now 39 years old, on the court, it shouldn’t be his sole responsibility to make every decision for the Lakers. That would be too demanding for him.
Zach LaVine is a proven scorer who excels at all three levels of the game and still has room to improve.

Would acquiring Zach LaVine be the ultimate solution for the Lakers? Maybe not, but he would undoubtedly be their best option alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. LaVine excels as a secondary ballhandler, utilizing screens and off-ball movements to exploit defenses. With his superior athleticism, he can easily blow past guards on the perimeter, especially when given the space created by James and Davis.

In addition, LaVine is a versatile scorer from all areas on the court. He is a reliable pull-up shooter, hitting 46.2 percent of his pull-up two-pointers last season, making him a valuable late-shot clock option for the Lakers. He is also effective at catching and shooting, connecting on 41.6 percent of his three-point attempts in those situations, and he converts around 39 percent of his open or wide-open threes. Furthermore, his exceptional athleticism allows him to finish at the rim, shooting an impressive 62.7 percent near the basket last season.

Acquiring LaVine through a trade would greatly benefit the Lakers, as they currently rank 28th in the league in three-pointers made per game. Beyond his scoring ability, LaVine is also a proficient shot creator, providing a significant upgrade over players like Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell. This would give the Lakers a reliable offensive option to carry the load when James is on the bench.

Despite not performing at his peak for the Chicago Bulls in the current season, he manages to score an average of 21.0 points per game. Considering the potential for improvement in his shooting percentages compared to previous years and the revitalization he may experience while playing with fellow Klutch clients LeBron James and Anthony Davis, it is highly likely that this talented guard for the Bulls will reclaim his All-Star status once he joins the Los Angeles Lakers.