Lakers declining to remember one player for Zach LaVine exchange.

Lakers refusing to include one player in Zach LaVine trade

The Los Angeles Lakers are interested in Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine, but only to a certain extent.

Over the past year LaVine, a former UCLA hoops star, has been linked to L.A. in various capacities. He said last season that the Lakers were his preferred landing spot, and they were one of four teams he expressed interest in this season.

That being said, a lot of pieces need to align in order to make his wish a reality.

Currently, one of the biggest roadblocks preventing a LaVine-to-Los Angeles move is the Lakers’ refusal to include one key player in any potential deal: Austin Reaves.

“I think any deal involving the Lakers will have to include Austin Reaves,” Chris Haynes reported this week.

“What I am told is that the Lakers are not interested at all in moving Austin Reaves.”

Haynes isn’t the only one to say this.

Sam Amick of The Athletic reported something similar.

“For the Lakers, who are also known to have interest in the Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso, a conversation with Chicago is likely to include a request for Austin Reaves (who isn’t eligible to be traded until Jan. 15),” he wrote.

“But by all indications, the Lakers remain as committed to Reaves as they were when they gave him a four-year, $56 million deal last summer.”

It will be interesting to see where all parties involved go from here.

The Bulls are done with LaVine. That much is clear. The only question at this point is where he goes.

As for the Lakers – they are currently on a two-game losing streak that has them sitting at No. 8 in the West. The Los Angeles Clippers have officially leapfrogged them in the standings.

Obviously Reaves is a fan favorite and someone the front office likes.But he isn’t an All-Star. LaVine is.

Will the Lakers change their mind on including Reaves in a LaVine trade at some point between now and the deadline? Time will tell.