5 Best Remaining Trade Targets to Save the Lakers Offseason

Bruce Brown

If the Lakers want to prioritize their backcourt, someone like Bruce Brown makes a lot of sense. One of the biggest weaknesses for Los Angeles has been perimeter defense. Their guards D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves struggle to keep offensive players in front of them, allowing a ton of penetration. This puts an unsustainable amount of workload on Anthony Davis. At this stage of his career, Davis can't anchor a defensively-challenged group and turn them into an elite defense during the regular season.

Therefore, the Lakers need to get more physical and intense at the point of attack. One player who could help on that front in a massive way is Bruce Brown.

After winning the 2023 NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets, Brown signed a two-year deal with the Indiana Pacers. He was then traded to the Toronto Raptors in the mid-season trade for Pascal Siakam. The Raptors are also in the midst of a rebuild and should be willing to part ways with a 27-year-old Brown on an expiring contract.

Brown's athleticism would give the Lakers much-needed versatility. He can guard multiple positions and doesn't need the ball to be effective on the offensive end. He is more of a point guard defensively but plays like a power forward offensively, setting screens, cutting to the rim, and finishing around the basket.

The swing skill for Brown is his shooting. He is a 33% three-point shooter for his career but he can make enough to keep defenses honest. He is a smart enough player to make up for his shooting weakness. He finds ways to score in transition, offensive boards, and savvy plays without the ball.

Brown shouldn't be the marquee addition for the Lakers on the trade market but his skill set is exactly what the Lakers need to prioritize.

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