Blinksportsnews247After signing with the Pacers in the summer, 2023 champion Bruce Brown was traded to the Toronto Raptors as part of the Pascal Siakam trade, joining a rebuilding Raptors team.
There are allegedly other NBA teams interested in acquiring Brown from Toronto. Adrian Wojnarowski disclosed that the Lakers were considering a trade for the swingman.
“The Lakers have been fixated on obtaining one player since they were defeated by Denver in the Conference Finals last year. Bruce Brown Jr. Teams have been contacting Toronto frequently in an attempt to sign Bruce Brown because of his universal appeal. Among these are the Lakers. Bruce Brown, keep watching the Lakers to see if there’s a part way.
Brown was on the verge of signing a free agent contract with the Lakers, but Wojnarowski disclosed that he ultimately decided to sign with the Pacers because they offered him a far bigger deal.
“He played for the Denver team that defeated the Lakers; they were unable to pay him to stay.” In free agency, Bruce Brown probably would have gone to the Lakers for the non-tax mid-level exception if Indiana hadn’t stepped up with a two-year, $45 million deal. The Lakers have persisted in attempting to acquire him via trade with the Pacers.”
There may be a bidding war for Brown because the New York Knicks are reportedly interested in the high-utility role player. The Lakers and Knicks may both be able to provide the Raptors with picks beyond the 2024 NBA Draft if they place a high enough value on Brown.
Should Bruce Brown be pursued by the Lakers?
The Lakers’ main objective appears to be acquiring Dejounte Murray this winter, since Atlanta has already put up a deal that includes D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and a 2029 first-round selection. Would they send this package to Toronto for Brown if they were unable to land Murray?
Although Brown is a very valuable role player who averages 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, he doesn’t necessarily solve the problems the Lakers are now facing. In light of Gabe Vincent’s injury concerns, they must make sure they receive a point guard in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, or else their guard rotation would be severely compromised.
Purchasing Murray with Russell and JHS and sending Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent to Toronto to obtain Brown would be a more audacious strategy to close this transaction. Of those four players, only two are truly in the rotation; therefore, the Lakers are depleting their asset capital in an attempt to win now.
LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Dejounte, and Austin Reaves would make up a formidable starting five. In all likelihood, the Lakers would just try to convince the Raptors to part with Brown and former Laker Dennis Schroder in a potential trade if Murray became unavailable.
Now that LA has so many options, they won’t rush into anything because they only have this one chance to get this right.
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