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Report: Lakers would 'prefer' to land this Bulls player over Zach LaVine
Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Lakers would 'prefer' to land this Bulls player over Zach LaVine

At this point, it's a widespread belief that the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in acquiring a Chicago Bulls player who may be on the trade block. However, he is not named Zach LaVine.

According to a recent report from The Athletic's Jovan Buha, the Lakers "would still prefer" to acquire DeMar DeRozan and/or Alex Caruso, and those two names take center stage with Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. But from Buha's report, it appears the Lakers have been busy discussing several potential trade targets, including Toronto Raptors guard Bruce Brown, who was just acquired from the Indiana Pacers. But Brown joins a list of five other players reportedly linked to the Lakers.

"Other names that have come up in talks with team and league personnel over the past two weeks include Portland’s Jerami Grant, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier, Toronto’s Gary Trent Jr. and Brooklyn’s Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale. Each player fills at least one of the Lakers’ three needs."

Los Angeles was linked to Brown during free agency, so the interest in a potential deal there makes sense. Realistically, any of the first three names in Jerami Grant, Terry Rozier or Gary Trent would add an immediate scoring punch and another offensive option. Dorian Finney-Smith can knock down threes and would be a great wing addition, while Royce O'Neale is the type of fit Darvin Ham appears to covet in his rotation.

Whether any of these names become more than just potential options remains to be seen, but even if two of the numerous players listed above come at a price Lakers GM Rob Pelinka views as reasonable, it could result in L.A. boasting a new-look unit down the stretch.

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