DeMar DeRozan was close to joining the Lakers in 2021 when he was a free agent. Instead, Los Angeles went for Russell Westbrook and DeRozan signed with the Bulls.

However, the five-time NBA All-Star could still end up with the Purple and Gold. According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, the Lakers have had internal discussions about trading Westbrook and both first round picks for DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic.

Via Peter Dewey of Lakers Daily:

“The trade I saw on Twitter was Russ and both picks, one with light protections I think for DeRozan and Vucevic,” Lowe said on his podcast. “I can tell you 100 percent for sure that the Lakers have had internal discussions about that very possibility, if it would ever come up. Not that they would do that. Let me be clear.”

This season DeRozan is averaging 26.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 34.7 minutes per game. Meanwhile, Vucevic is averaging 15.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3 assists in 31.8 minutes per game.