Los Angeles Lakers potential transfer targets this NBA season | News, results, highlights, stats and rumors

Current salary: 43 million US dollars
Remaining contract term: 137 million US dollars/three years (player option for the last season)
Trade Kicker: 15 percent (additional $6.2 million for 2024-25 and 2025-26)

The Bulls parted ways with their underperforming core this summer, sending Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder and DeMar DeRozan (via sign-and-trade) to the Sacramento Kings. Multiple sources say the team would be happy to offload LaVine's big contract.

LaVine, 29, was a two-time All-Star and played at UCLA, but knee and foot injuries have limited his play. He is a talented scorer, hitting 38.2 percent of his career three-pointers, but a mediocre defender with just four postseason games in 10 years.

His higher salary, even before considering the transfer kicker, shows how difficult trades will be for the Lakers this year. The franchise must pay out more salary than it takes in while also leaving room to fill the roster to the required minimum of 14 players.

For example, D'Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Christian Wood are enough to get LaVine (assuming he's willing to give up his kicker, which is arguably a must in any deal with the Lakers) – but that would be extremely difficult to do before the season, as it would be difficult for LA to stay under the second-tier cap and go back to 14 standard contracts.

A more realistic offseason deal (due to financial constraints) would have to revolve around Rui Hachimura and Russell. But would the Lakers retain enough depth to win, especially given LaVine's injury history?

Advantages: The Lakers don't have to send compensation to Chicago for LaVine. When healthy, LaVine is exceptionally talented.

Disadvantages: Many around the league doubt that LaVine will fully return to form, with financial constraints this season and next making it difficult to fill the rest of the roster.

Alternative: The Lakers could be interested in Nikola Vučević.