Envisioning the Lakers’ starting lineup if they pull off a blockbuster trade for Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
The Los Angeles Lakers (10-7) are coming off three straight losses, and cracks are starting to show after a strong start under JJ Redick. One glaring issue is their lack of depth in the frontcourt, with Anthony Davis carrying most of the load at center—a position he’s not fond of playing full-time. While Rob Pelinka avoided making major moves during the offseason, now might be the time to act before the Lakers slip further in the Western Conference standings.
LeBron James is turning 40 next month, and the Lakers can’t afford to waste another season of his greatness. They’ve seen how failing to build around a franchise icon hurt them during Kobe Bryant’s final years, and history shouldn’t repeat itself. This roster needs upgrades, and quickly.
Recent reports suggest the Chicago Bulls are shopping Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, two players who could address the Lakers’ most pressing needs. An All-Star shooting guard and a skilled center would fill glaring holes and elevate the team’s potential this season. Let’s take a look at how these additions could transform the Lakers’ lineup and their championship hopes.
The Potential Trade
Lakers receive: Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic
Bulls receive: D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Max Christie, 2029 First-Round Pick
The Lakers were reportedly checking out Zach LaVine last season, but that $43 million salary isn’t exactly easy to work around. On top of that, they’ve been hunting for a solid center since the preseason of this year, with names like Walker Kessler, Jonas Valanciunas, and recently Robert Williams popping up in rumors too. Vucevic, with his $20 million salary, feels like a quite realistic option. He’d be a great fit too—stretching the floor with his three-point shooting while giving Davis and LeBron space to work inside. Adding LaVine’s scoring punch and Vucevic’s versatility would take the Lakers to another level.
Why The Lakers Need To Make This Move
The Lakers are in a tricky spot at 10-7. Over their last ten games, they’ve gone 6-4, but things have taken a turn for the worse lately with three straight losses. Their most recent defeat came at the hands of the Suns, who welcomed back both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, handing the Lakers a lopsided 127-100 loss. Before that, they fell to the Magic and Nuggets, highlighting issues with consistency and depth that could derail their season if not addressed quickly.
These losses have dropped the Lakers from fourth to sixth in the Western Conference standings, a stark reminder of how competitive the playoff race will be this season. To stay in the fight for a top-four seed and avoid falling further, the Lakers need reinforcements. The current roster is solid, but it’s clear they’re missing the depth and firepower needed to handle the grind of the season and take on the top teams in the West.
D’Angelo Russell has become a key name in trade rumors, and for good reason. With his contract expiring, the Lakers risk losing him for nothing in free agency if they don’t act soon. Russell has shown flashes of brilliance but has struggled with consistency, and his role has often felt misaligned with the team’s needs. Moving him in a trade could bring back the kind of impactful players who can solidify the rotation and make life easier for LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Adding two significant pieces in a trade would give the Lakers the edge they need to stay competitive in the playoff race. They’re not far off, but the margins in the West are razor-thin. Making this move could be the difference between being a fringe contender and having the depth and balance needed to push for another championship run. For a team built to win now, the time to act is right now.
The Lakers Would Have A Stacked Lineup
This is how the Lakers’ starting lineup would look like if they acquire Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic:
Point Guard – Austin Reaves
Shooting Guard – Zach LaVine
Small Forward – LeBron James
Power Forward – Anthony Davis
Center – Nikola Vucevic
If the Lakers pulled off this trade, their starting lineup would be straight-up scary. Austin Reaves would likely slide into the point guard role, which isn’t exactly new for him. He’s already been running the offense in games where D’Angelo Russell comes off the bench. Reaves is having a killer season so far, averaging 17.3 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.5 rebounds in 17 games as a starter. The dude’s playmaking has been rock-solid, and his scoring keeps getting better.
Then you add Zach LaVine to the mix, who’s having an awesome bounce-back season after a foot injury derailed his year and shut him down before the trade deadline. Last season, he only managed 19.5 points per game, but this year? He’s back to looking like an All-Star, putting up 22.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists a night while shooting a crazy 52% from the field and 44% from three. The nearly four assists a game are a nice surprise, too—he’s sharing the ball more than ever.
Of course, LeBron James would be in his usual small forward spot again, doing his thing. At 39, LeBron is still playing at an unreal level, averaging 23.3 points, 9.2 assists, and 8.1 rebounds. His playmaking would thrive even more with shooters like LaVine and a big man like Nikola Vucevic on the floor. And speaking of big men, Anthony Davis is absolutely torching everyone this season. He’s averaging 29.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game—this dude is a cheat code when healthy.
At center, Vucevic would be a dream fit. He’s been balling for the Bulls this season, averaging 20.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, along with 1.0 blocks. His ability to stretch the floor with his shooting would give the Lakers so much versatility. Imagine him spacing the court while LeBron and Davis go to work inside. Plus, his rebounding and playmaking from the center position would only make the team more dangerous.
Coming off the bench, rookie Dalton Knecht has shown he can light it up. He dropped 37 points on the Jazz recently, showing he’s more than ready to be the sixth man in a lineup like this. And while the Lakers would lose a lot of depth in this deal, there are still ways to patch that up. Free agency has some solid options like Markelle Fultz, Robert Covington, and Danilo Gallinari—guys who could provide instant help.
The Lakers could also look internally to fill roster gaps. Christian Koloko has been a surprising standout in limited minutes and could step into a more prominent role as a backup center. And Quincy Olivari, currently on a two-way deal, has shown enough promise to warrant a standard NBA contract if the Lakers need more backcourt depth.
This lineup would have everything: elite playmakers, versatile scorers, tough defense, and plenty of size. With this squad, the Lakers wouldn’t just be looking at a playoff run—they’d be thinking about hanging another banner.