Wild trades that could help Lakers land Zach LaVine and Derrick Rose this offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers might chase a third star this offseason.

The Los Angeles Lakers might be among the favorites to take home the title in this abbreviated, unusual 2019-20 season, but the team’s chances of contending for a championship are far from secure. Not only are key members of the team like Anthony Davis and Avery Bradley on the open market, but resigning them leaves the Lakers without the third star of a more noteworthy ilk than that of Kyle Kuzma.

Considering the trade rumors surrounding Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine, fresh off averaging 23.3 points during his tenure in the Windy City, Rob Pelinka should consider making a move for the disgruntled high-flyer. If LaVine is out of the picture, veteran point guards like Derrick Rose and Dennis Schroder could also boost the Lakers’ contention chances. Pelinka needs to be aggressive during the shortened offseason if he is to get LeBron James another standout running mate.

Here’s what the Los Angeles Lakers need to give up for Zach LaVine.

Due to the Stepien rule, the Lakers are unable to trade first-round picks in consecutive seasons. Due to the ramifications of the Anthony Davis trade, the Lakers will be unable to trade such a pick until 2026, unless the acquire one elsewhere. While two second-rounders for a player like LaVine might not be the most attractive return, throwing in two solid scorers on the wing in Danny Green and Alex Caruso in addition to another frontcourt building block in Kuzma should be enough to sweeten the deal.

In this trade, the Lakers will get one of the game’s most exciting athletes who also happens to be a 38 percent three-point shooter. That style of play would be ideal alongside James. Chicago, who just hit the reset button after hiring Arturas Karnisovas as their new executive VP of basketball operations, adds a good mix of enticing young talent via Caruso and Kuzma while snatching one of the league’s best three-point shooters and perimeter defenders in Green.

The Los Angeles Lakers need to part with some assets to get Derrick Rose

In order to make the money work in this deal, Henson, a player averaging 5.5 points per game despite getting paid nearly $10 million this season, would need to be sent to LA in addition to Rose if Kuzma and Green are set to go to Detroit. Rajon Rondo, for all his positive traits as a player, wasn’t cutting it on the offensive end, and the rejuvenated Rose offers a much higher floor and ceiling than Rondo. Henson isn’t a superstar, but he can become a solid backup rim-runner who plays solid defense.

Kuzma’s role as the leader of LA’s second unit has done a number on his scoring, but he was averaging nearly 20 points a game during his second season in the league, which could make the Pistons a touch more confident in declaring a part of the team’s young core. Green might not be a spring chicken, but he’s still lethal from behind the arc. Those two could lead a revolution, along with Blake Griffin, in Detroit should both sides pull the trigger on this deal.

The Los Angeles Lakers need to be aggressive to land Dennis Schroder.

Schroder has quietly become one of the league’s best offensive point guard during his time with the Thunder and Atlanta Hawks, as his 19.0 points per game despite the presence of Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt deserves high marks. The Thunder, even though they’re winning games right now, are looking towards the future, and adding Kuzma and Green into the mix for in exchange for their third-best guard would be a smashing success.

Schroder would become an instant starter for the Lakers. While his defense isn’t exactly worth writing home about, his speed and ability to attack off the dribble is up there with the league’s best, and Kuzma and Green are worth parting with to secure his services.

The Lakers are by no means a perfect roster, and Pelinka needs to realize that when the offseason rolls around. Adding one of these studs could help set the Lakers up for another decade of dominance.