Lakers fans have had Zach LaVine well and truly on their mind lately, thanks to recent reports suggesting there’s a possibility he could be traded to LA.
The Athletic’s Jovan Buha affirmed the Lakers’ genuine interest in the shooting guard, while Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports noted that LA is among LaVine’s preferred destinations, alongside the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs.
But despite the buzz tying LaVine to LA, reports indicate that the team’s current focus lies more on improving from within rather than seeking external acquisitions, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
“Philadelphia’s interest in LaVine has been overstated, as covered here, while I’ve been advised that the Lakers’ reported interest at this early juncture of the season is best described (at most) as TBD,” Stein wrote.
“I’m told the Lakers, at present, are focused on internal improvement, hopeful that getting Jarred Vanderbilt (who is ineligible to be traded this season after signing an extension with the Lakers in September) and [Gabe] Vincent back on the floor regularly will give them a meaningful boost.”
Vanderbilt is grappling with a heel injury and is yet to make his season debut. Vincent, meanwhile, has been out of action since October 30 due to a knee injury, following a slow start to the season.
The Lakers have won five of their last six games and are sixth in the West with a record of 8-6.
LA’s next game is against the Jazz on Tuesday, a matchup that will be part of the NBA Mid-Season Tournament.
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