Los Angeles Lakers May Target Chicago Bulls Star to Support Luka Doncic and LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers recently kicked off their Luka Doncic era with a trade that sent shockwaves through the NBA.
The partnership between LeBron James and Doncic has shown great promise, with both players demonstrating strong chemistry that could pose significant challenges to opponents in the playoffs. However, they still need to find the right players to surround them in order to be viewed as legitimate Championship contenders.
Regardless of how deep they go in the playoffs this season, the Lakers must address their center position during the offseason.
While Jaxson Hayes has made notable strides since Doncic’s arrival, he is not considered an elite center. The Lakers may need to seek a new one in the summer.
In the article “1 Trade Every Team Should Propose on the 1st Day of the 2025 NBA Offseason” on Bleacher Report, Greg Swartz proposed a trade where the Chicago Bulls would receive Rui Hachimura, Shake Milton, and a 2025 second-round pick, while the Lakers would acquire Nikola Vucevic.
Swartz commented, “Vucevic isn’t the ideal stylistic fit next to Luka Doncic and LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he would be a significant upgrade over Jaxson Hayes. He can serve as a reliable third or fourth scoring option nightly while offering strong rebounding and passing.”
“Hachimura, 27, has emerged as one of the league’s best shooting forwards (41.0% from three this season), who could excel playing alongside pass-first guards like Josh Giddey and Lonzo Ball.”
For the Bulls, trading Vucevic now is almost necessary if they are committed to their rebuild. Having already moved on from Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso, they would need a solid offer, particularly a first-round pick, to seriously consider this deal.
At 34 years old, Vucevic is enjoying one of his most efficient seasons. The 6’10” big man is averaging 18.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, with a career-high 53.4% field goal percentage and 39.2% shooting from beyond the arc.
Should the Lakers pursue this trade, there’s no doubt that Vucevic could make a significant impact. However, the question remains whether the team would prefer a veteran like him to back up Doncic or opt for a player with a longer-term future on the roster.