No! The Lakers refuse to trade! The All-Star guard is expected to team up with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Lakers are no longer interested in acquiring LaVine via trade.

This player has a salary of $46 million this season and $48.97 million next season. The Lakers would prefer to retain Reeves, who declined his player option this summer and could become a free agent early, aiming for a max contract of around $240 million over five years, with an average annual salary of $48 million.

So far this season, 30-year-old LaVine is averaging 20.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists with a shooting percentage of 48.7%; 27-year-old Reeves averages 27.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1 steal per game, shooting at 50.3%.

The Lakers are no longer tempted by LaVine, but there are still teams eager to take him on, namely the Bucks, who are trying to strengthen their roster to retain Giannis.

Whoever manages to trade LaVine will be welcomed by the Kings, who might even pop champagne... Sources reveal that Kings’ current GM Scott Perry is very pessimistic about LaVine, blaming him as a major factor for the team’s high points allowed and poor defensive efficiency.

So far this season, the Kings stand at 7 wins and 22 losses, bottom of the Western Conference. They allow 122 points per game (26th in the league) and have a defensive efficiency ranking of 118.8 (28th in the league).

LaVine’s scoring ability is undeniable; from 2018 to 2026, except for the 2023-24 season, he has averaged over 20 points per game every year, with a career-high single game of 51 points. The problem is he seems to focus almost exclusively on scoring, which limits his overall contribution. His defense has always been poor both in skill and effort, with a personal defensive efficiency of 121.8 this season, nearly the worst in the league.

Standing 1.96 meters tall with a 2.04-meter wingspan, LaVine possesses historic-level athleticism. If he put more effort into defense, he could easily reach at least a competent level or better.

In summary, LaVine is definitely a starter-level NBA player, but his overall skills clearly don’t justify a nearly $50 million annual salary. That’s why he has been on the trade block for many years without a deal, whether with the Bulls or the Kings.

As for why the Bucks favor LaVine, it might be a desperate move; as mentioned, they need to make moves in the market to have a chance to convince the Greek Freak to stay.