NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers’ Pursuit of $43 Million Guard Doesn’t Delay Anthony Davis’ Longtime Wish for Once

The Lakers aren’t about to risk it all by chasing a Big 3. Honestly, who can blame them? The financial mess that comes with stacking stars isn’t worth it. And let’s be real—they’re not trading Austin Reaves or Rui Hachimura. LeBron James? Forget it. That’s not happening either. Here’s where it gets tricky, though. Sitting at 20-16, they don’t look all that different from last season. They need a shake-up, plain and simple.

The Bulls aren’t hiding the fact that they’ve been trying to move Zach LaVine. Earlier in the season, they even had trade talks with the Lakers. While those discussions reportedly didn’t go too far, D’Angelo Russell’s exit might re-engage negotiations. LaVine is quietly having one of the strongest seasons of his career. He’s putting up 23.6 points per game with impressive efficiency, shooting 52% from the field, 44% from deep, and 81% at the line. On top of that, he’s averaging 4.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists each night.

Here’s where things get interesting, though. According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Lakers have been keeping tabs on Nick Richards, the Hornets’ backup center, since the 2024 offseason. With the trade deadline looming on February 6, their interest hasn’t faded.

Richards, a 7-footer out of Kentucky, is a budget-friendly option for the Lakers as reported by Alex Kirschenbaum of Sports Illustrated. He’s locked into a three-year, $15 million deal, now in its second year. For a team like L.A., always juggling cap space like it’s a game of Tetris, that kind of contract is a win. Finally, Anthony Davis might get his wish of playing alongside a center.

He can go back to his power-forward position. Richards, at 27, has been quietly putting up decent numbers this season. He’s averaging 9.2 points, hitting 56.4% of his attempts, and making 67.8% of his free throws. Add to that 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game, and you’ve got a guy doing his job well.

But let’s not beat around the bush—the Hornets are having an absolute nightmare of a season. With an 8-27 record, they’re one of the league’s worst teams. They’re still rolling with Mark Williams, who can’t seem to stay healthy, as their main guy. Honestly, if Charlotte can squeeze out some draft picks for Richards, why wouldn’t they? It’s not like they have much to lose.

Plus, having Dorian Finney-Smith now makes the bigger LaVine trade possible and likelier.

The Lakers’ vision is coming together

Now that Dorian Finney-Smith is in the fold, the Lakers might be more open to moving Rui Hachimura. ‘Might’. This would give them flexibility, potentially paving the way for a trade for a big-name player like Zach LaVine from the Bulls. Sure, DFS and Hachimura have different skill sets, but both play the same position. In today’s NBA, though, that position is more about role overlap than pure skill differences.

With LeBron James, AD, and Austin Reaves taking charge of the offense, Hachimura’s role has naturally shifted. He’s been asked to play off of them, leading him to take 38.9% of his jumpers from beyond the arc this season. Even more impressive? His catch-and-shoot three-point percentage is 39.2%.

Looking ahead, the Lakers could think about bringing Hachimura off the bench. Think of him like a relief pitcher—coming in for LeBron to bring energy and scoring punch.

But here’s the thing: when the playoffs roll around, it’s not the bench players who carry the team. That doesn’t make Hachimura useless, but it does make him easier to move if the Lakers are eyeing a starting-caliber, possibly even an All-Star-level player.

If the Lakers are serious about trading for Zach LaVine, who’s raking in 43 million this season, you can expect Rui Hachimura to be the key piece heading to Chicago. His untapped potential could finally reach its peak in a new environment. Alongside Hachimura, the Lakers would likely need to offload Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Jaxson Hayes to match salaries.While Hood-Schifino and Hayes are on expiring contracts, which could give Chicago some cap relief, the real challenge lies in convincing the Bulls to take Vincent and Vanderbilt. Vincent’s deal goes through 2026, and Vanderbilt is locked in at $12 million per year through 2028.

This is where things could get interesting—a third team with cap space or a trade exception could help facilitate the deal. Finding the right partner with the flexibility to step in could be the missing piece that gets this trade done.

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