Lakers reportedly have trade partner for $15M gritty former first-rounder to finalize roster

Lakers reportedly have trade partner for $15M gritty former first-rounder to finalize roster originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The Los Angeles Lakers are still at a crossroads when it comes to what to do with their final roster spot, as they are currently one player over the limit. The plan was to trade some players, which in theory would open up a spot, but that has not been successful. If it comes down to it, the team will have to cut someone. Originally, Bronny James, Jaden Hardy and Dalton Knecht were viewed as potential options to be moved. "Clearly, the Lakers need to dump someone, and I think it's going to be one of three players," Lakers insider Jovan Buha said. "It's going to either be Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, or Bronny James." However, as of late, a new name has surfaced as a potential trade candidate: former first-round pick Jake LaRavia. He was inconsistent for the Lakers last season, making him a logical player to consider moving. "Hustles, plays every game, but inconsistent. His contract makes him an attractive piece, though, as the Lakers are still figuring out the back end of their roster," Heavy.com's Sean Deveney wrote. There were times when LaRavia came through for Los Angeles, but there were others when he seemingly disappeared. Now, it is simply a matter of finding a team willing to make a deal. Morris Bankston of the Bulls Beat Blog believes the Chicago Bulls could be a potential trade suitor for LaRavia. "The Los Angeles Lakers remain a viable trade partner for the Bulls to engage in the twilight of the 2026 NBA offseason… An intriguing and risky trade opportunity for the Bulls would be acquiring Lakers forward Jake LaRavia into their room MLE to fill their 15th roster spot," Banks wrote. In hindsight, this would make perfect sense for the Lakers, as it would clear a roster spot while potentially allowing them to acquire some form of draft capital in return. Los Angeles is simply looking for a way to part with a player and make the roster easier to manage. The former first-rounder has made $15 million in his young career. LaRavia still needs to find more consistency, and if he can do that, he could be a useful addition to a young Bulls team. How likely a trade is remains unknown, but it certainly seems like the Lakers and Bulls could have a potential deal to explore. More NBA news: