The Lakers are the subject of constant trade rumours, which

The Lakers are the subject of constant trade rumours, which

The Lakers, who are 22-22 and ranked ninth in the West, are the subject of endless trade rumours. NBA insider Marc Stein has again identified LA as a candidate for guard Bruce Brown, who is now with the Raptors and caused LA some trouble in the 2023 Western Conference Finals.

Where does Brown fit into the laundry list of Lakers trade targets given the abundance of names previously listed, and given their recent success, should LA even entertain the idea of making a deal for him?

NBA Rumours: Want to Trade for Last Year’s Conference Finals Defending Champ?
Context
A notable figure during Denver’s championship run was Bruce Brown. Throughout the 2023 playoffs, the 6-foot-4 guard/forward averaged 12 points (.511/.316/.857 splits), four rebounds, two assists, and one steal. In addition to receiving well-deserved recognition for his achievements, he signed a two-year, $45 million deal with the Indiana Pacers.

Although Brown’s tenure with the Pacers was brief, it was still remarkable. The 27-year-old scored 12.1 points on roughly 48% shooting from the field in 33 games, all of which he started. For head coach Rick Carlisle, he continued to be a reliable facilitator and defender, dishing up three assists and one steal on average. Nevertheless, the Pacers traded him to the Raptors for Pascal Siakam in a three-team trade.

Though Brown has only been in two games for Toronto, he has performed well in both. He has five rebounds, one steal, and an average of 11.5 points on 55% shooting. Brown is returning to his position as Dennis Schröder’s backup as Toronto takes a fresh turn.

Updates on Bruce Brown and the Lakers
Shams Charania and Stein have both noted that Brown is now the newest player on a lengthy list of Lakers targets.

With a $23 million team option for 2024–2025, Brown is earning $22 million this season. It’s not really any different from the majority of the other players the club is considering, and there are definitely ways to close a deal.

According to sources close to Marc Stein, the reigning champion is looking for “a future first-round pick and a quality player… at a minimum.” The Lakers have access to both of them thanks to the high contracts of its star players and at least a first-round pick in 2029 or 2030.

Is Bruce Brown a tradeable asset for the Lakers?
Given LA’s current success, many fans’ adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” makes sense. It is also evident, however, that the Lakers’ list of trade targets would benefit them in some manner. People can be thrilled to have someone who was on the other side of their championship dreams. But Brown is someone the Lakers may want to avoid.

Although Brown doesn’t score as much as Terry Rozier or Dejounte Murray, he does have an advantage in defence and flexibility, and he can cover several roles on both sides of the court. However, as Joseph Zucker of Bleacher Report pointed out, Brown could not be as much of a “difference-maker,” ranking lower on any Lakers want list than the other two and potentially even higher.

Due to Russell’s recent hot streak and his feelings on Sunday, supporters are pleading with the Lakers to “#KeepDLo.” Despite the team’s changing rotations, they have always acknowledged his value to the group and are pleading with Darvin Ham and his coaching staff to do the same.

The Lakers won’t see much improvement by trading away players like Russell or Rui Hachimura for a sixth-man guard, and he won’t fix every issue they have. Austin Reaves, who performs the same tasks as Brown but is a superior facilitator and shooter, may potentially suffer from his arrival in terms of his growth. Rob Pelinka would be silly to downgrade guys who are contributing to the Lakers’ victory, even with Brown’s skill. It would be a regression in the team’s quest for the championship.

Haha. It seems that he has changed his mind. Los Angeles Lakers Continue With Their Known Playoff Lineup Despite Their Current Problems; They Face Difficulties Due To Key Players’ Absences

With a 22-22 record for the season, the Los Angeles Lakers sit in ninth place in the Western Conference. The Los Angeles Lakers will start with the same lineup that they mostly utilised throughout the previous season’s playoffs, according to Lakers Daily.

The starting lineup for the Lakers against the Portland Trail Blazers was D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Anthony Davis. They finished the game with a 134-110 victory against the Blazers.

Due to “knee soreness,” Taurean Prince will not be participating in the game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers starting lineup for the playoffs of the previous season included Austin Reaves, Anthony Davis, and James LeBron. The Lakers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors to get to the Western Conference Finals thanks to these amazing guys.

Though there are a number of unclear reasons why he may not be able to open the 2023–24 season with this roster, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham was presumably expecting to do so. With just five starts under his belt, Vanderbilt missed time with a heel issue.

Prince, a defender for the Lakers team, has emerged as a strong player who can successfully cover a variety of floor positions. The Los Angeles Clippers will be the Los Angeles Lakers’ next opponent.

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