NBA Rumors: Lakers reportedly interested in acquiring former champion to bolster guard depth
Amid their quiet offseason, the LA Lakers reportedly remain interested in trading for Toronto Raptors guard Bruce Brown.
LA has been connected to Brown since last offseason when he joined the Indiana Pacers on a two-year, $45 million free-agency deal. Brown received a considerable pay raise after playing a crucial role as a versatile guard-forward on the Denver Nuggets' 2023 NBA championship team.
Brown was shipped to Toronto in January as part of the blockbuster deal that netted Indiana star forward Pascal Siakam. Given that the Raptors are in the early stages of a rebuilding phase, many have speculated that he could soon be on the move again.
Brown was involved in trade rumors at the February trade deadline and during this year's NBA draft, with LA named a potential suitor. Per ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel's Monday report, the organization remains keen on acquiring the 2023 champion.
"The Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks are two teams that showed interest in Brown last season, sources said, and LA maintains an interest in him this offseason," Siegel wrote.
Brown enters next season on an expiring $23 million contract. So, he should be an attractive trade target for contenders who can match his salary.
The Lakers have five players set to make between $10 million and $19 million next season. Those include D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Among those players, Reaves is the only one the franchise has reportedly been reluctant to make available via trade. Thus, it seemingly has the contractual pieces to get a deal done if it adds the necessary draft capital.
Acquiring Brown would bolster the Lakers' guard depth, likely providing them with additional defense, complementary playmaking and a player who can finish off cuts.
Over 67 games this past season, Brown averaged 10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 3-pointers per game, shooting 47.8%.
Amid continued Bruce Brown trade interest, Lakers 1 of 3 teams not to add a player in free agency
As for how quiet the Lakers' offseason has been, per ESPN, they are one of three teams that haven't added a player during free agency.
The other two teams that haven't acquired any players are the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
While Cleveland is coming off a 4-1 second-round playoff loss to Boston, LA fell 4-1 to the Denver Nuggets in the postseason's first round. Since then, its biggest offseason acquisitions have been rookies Dalton Knecht and Bronny James.
The Lakers also made a coaching change, hiring revered analytical mind JJ Redick as a rookie coach. However, if they fail to make another move, they will enter next season with nearly the same squad as last year.
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