Los Angeles Lakers Reportedly Prefer DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso Over Zach LaVine

As another season unfolds, the LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers are again making headlines in trade discussions. This time, they are linked with the Chicago Bulls, who boast some really good players like DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso and Nikola Vucevic.

This isn’t the first instance of the Lakers being associated with these players. However, the likelihood of acquiring any of them has increased due to the Bulls’ lackluster performance this season.

LaVine is seen as the most probable candidate to join the Lakers. The rumor mill has been active all season, and LaVine’s interest in playing alongside LeBron, coupled with his ties to the Klutch Sports group that represents both LeBron and Anthony Davis, adds to this speculation.

While LaVine is a popular topic, a recent report by Jovan Buha from The Athletic suggests that the Lakers actually favor DeRozan and/or Caruso over LaVine. DeRozan was previously linked to the Lakers in 2021. Caruso, a key contributor to their 2020 NBA championship victory, continues to be a favorite in Los Angeles.

Per The Athletic:

My understanding is that the Lakers continue to prefer DeRozan and/or Caruso given their contracts, as previously reported. The Lakers have preferred year-to-year flexibility over long-term salaries since their championship run in 2020, and especially after the catastrophic Russell Westbrook trade. DeRozan is on a $28 million expiring deal. Caruso is making $9.5 million this season and $9.9 million next season, both team-friendly figures given he’s one of the league’s best defensive guards. LaVine, meanwhile, reprepresents a significant commitment for a player who’s been a borderline All-Star at best.