CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 29: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers is defended by Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at United Center on March 29, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to Chicago Bulls All-Star guard Zach LaVine for a while now, but their refusal to include one notable player in a trade may be holding up the blockbuster move.

According to Bleacher Report NBA insider Chris Haynes, a Lakers trade for LaVine would likely have to include 25-year-old guard Austin Reaves. However, Haynes states that Los Angeles isn’t keen on trading him.

“I think any deal involving the Lakers will have to include Austin Reaves,” Haynes said. “But, from what I’m told, the Lakers are not interested at all in moving Austin Reaves.”

The Bulls hoped to be a playoff team again by running it back with the core of LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vučević. But the Bulls are off to a disappointing 11-17 start and look nothing close to a playoff contender in an improved Eastern Conference.

Trading LaVine would likely signal the beginning of a long overdue rebuild in Chicago. It’s understandable why they covet a young guard like Reaves, who’s piecing together a career year with 15 points, five rebounds and 4.7 assists per game through his first 27 games.

Reaves has been a reliable outside shooter (a career 49.2 field goal percentage) to complement the superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But the Lakers definitely need a reliable No. 3 scorer to help those two, and LaVine might be the final piece needed to help them to a championship.

Of course, the Bulls don’t have to rush a LaVine trade. Perhaps the Lakers will give in and offer Reaves. Or perhaps another club will top the Lakers’ offer for the two-time All-Star.