Since acquiring Kawhi Leonard in the summer of 2019, the LA Clippers have been completely in win-now mode. And while the era of Leonard has taken them to new heights in the West, they have yet to take the next step and make an appearance in the Finals.
This summer, not a whole lot has changed for the franchise, but their pursuit of James Harden has fans dreaming of a new potential big three in Los Angeles next season. At the very least, at least one league executive believes Bulls guard Zach LaVine could be another option for the Clips if they strike out on the Beard.
“The Clippers covet James Harden and are doing everything they can to get him,” wrote NBA insider Ashish Mathur. “If a deal can’t be reached, they do have a Plan B. Zach LaVine would become a very intriguing target for LA.”
LaVine, 28, doesn’t have the same resume as Harden, and he’s not nearly the playmaker that the former MVP is, but he’s still a solid option in the backcourt and a young player who could thrive next to the two-man duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
Is Zach LaVine A Superstar?
LaVines career has been pretty up-and-down so far. Dating back to his days in Minnesota, Zach has had a mix of positive and negative stretches, but overall he still has star-level potential that makes him a valuable addition for any team.
And while he believes he has the talent to be a primary offensive option, it remains to be seen how far he can take the Bulls on his own.
“I don’t work my ass off to be a No. 2 guy or a No. 3 guy. I want to be a superstar,” LaVine said to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. “I want to be a top of the league type dude. And that’s what I see myself as. And I’m going to continue to strive for that and reach for my goals. That’s why I work so hard for it. I don’t sacrifice my entire summer and grind my life away to be just a regular guy in the NBA.”
At this point, it may be better for everyone if LaVine moves on to a new situation, and the Clippers would give him everything he could want in this next chapter of his career.
