Zach LaVine has proven the doubters wrong with his performances this season. The 29-year-old has been playing some of his best basketball and he is bringing a lot more than that to the table.

Considering his past situation with the Chicago Bulls, many would have expected LaVine to sulk and hope for a trade to take place.

He has done the exact opposite and has stepped up into a leadership role this season, helping guide the team to a better start than anybody could have expected when they parted ways with DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso in the summer.

LaVine could be the next to go despite his strong start as the Bulls seem to be aiming for a rebuilding after having made the playoffs just once in the past seven seasons. The Los Angeles Lakers are a team who have been linked with a move for LaVine, on-and-off, for more than a year. There are many who believe that LaVine would be a great fit for what the Lakers need right now.

But it does not look like a move to Los Angeles is on the cards for the Bulls veteran.

According to Joe Cowley in the Chicago Sun-Times: “There have been whispers about the Lakers for over a year now, but a source said that the pieces that would have to be swapped don’t fit, and Los Angeles remains steadfast that Austin Reaves isn’t going to be included.”

Reaves, who went undrafted in 2021, has developed into a steady performer for the Lakers. This season, he is averaging 17.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 33.9 minutes per game. Perhaps someone like LaVine would be more of a game-winner than Reaves.

But it is not hard to understand why the Lakers might be reluctant to include him in a trade, especially considering his four-year, $56 million contract.