Report: Lakers have ‘real interest’ in Zach LaVine, value DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine higher

The Lakers reportedly have legitimate interest in Zach LaVine, but it’s the pair of DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso they are eyeing more.

Another day, another Zach LaVine rumor involving the Lakers.

Considering that trades can’t really happen for another two weeks and the Lakers are six weeks out from having maximum flexibility for an in-season trade, the rumors are not slowing down. They are, however, evolving.

On Wednesday, Jovan Buha of The Athletic spoke about the Lakers’ interest in not just LaVine, but fellow Bulls guards Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan as well.

There is a debate to be had as to which Bulls guard the Lakers should prioritize most, as I recently discussed, but it seems like the Lakers have a pretty clear pecking order. Caruso and DeRozan are more valuable to them for logical reasons.

With Caruso, it’s a bit more obvious in that he’s a role player with a proven track record with the Lakers and in Chicago as being a winning player. He’s also one of the league’s best perimeter defenders and would be a more seamless fit into what the Lakers already have.

DeRozan isn’t quite as seamless and does have some more questions about how he’d work with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but he’s also on an expiring contract. It’s a lower risk than trading for LaVine, and includes acquiring a player who really, really, really wants to be a Laker.

Ultimately, the Lakers are going to have lots of competition for all three guards and it’s unlikely they’re even going to have their pick of the litter. But it’s also encouraging to know they’re valuing the players they should value and not the ones with far more risk attached to them.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.