The Los Angeles Lakers are already reaping the rewards of an aggressive mid-season trade. Recent acquisition Dorian Finney-Smith is looking great with the franchise and is already being utilized as a multi-positional tool to complete lineups. With this early success, the Lakers should continue targetting players with similar intangible impact to continue filling out the roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Lakers have made runs at Bruce Brown in the past and failed. The franchise knows how impactful Brown can be, watching him help the Denver Nuggets seal the 2023 NBA Championship. He’s been in bad situations since then but could still be a high-level contributor on a contender if given the opportunity.
The Lakers would be the perfect home for Brown and his $23 million expiring contract right now, with the Lakers having multiple ways of pursuing this deal without giving up major rotational assets. Let’s take a look at two such deals.
Trade No. 1
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Bruce Brown
Toronto Raptors Receive: Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen Hood-Schifino
This deal will be a short-term boost for the Lakers, as they remove the poorly-performing Gabe Vincent ($11.0 million) and the perenially-injured Jarred Vanderbilt ($10.7 million) for Brown. Vanderbilt is yet to play this season while Vincent is averaging an underwhelming 4.3 points.
The potential upside on Vanderbilt and Hood-Schifino would be attractive to the Raptors, and this deal greatly boosts the Lakers.
Brown averaged 10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists last season for the Indiana Pacers and the Toronto Raptors, showing flashes of what made him an integral piece to the Nuggets 2023 Championship run. He had a troubled fit on the fast-paced Pacers and has been stuck on the tanking Raptors without a chance to show his winning intangibles for a competitive franchise.
This deal will bring Brown to the Lakers to be the ideal two-guard solution ahead of the inexperienced Max Christie. While Christie has been a solid option, come Playoff time, the Lakers will need a player like Brown to have that spot.
Trade No. 2
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Bruce Brown
Toronto Raptors Receive: Rui Hachimura, Christian Wood, Jalen Hood-Schifino
This deal has a more impactful effect on the Lakers this season, losing season-long starter Rui Hachimura ($17.0 million) in this deal. Hachimura is averaging 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds this season, proving to be a solid forward for the franchise. Removing him from the rotation could upset the Lakers flow greatly, but the franchise has a potentially superior option on the bench with Dorian Finney-Smith right now.
If Hachimura is bound to be relegated to a backup role and have his value diminish, the Lakers could maximize it by flipping it to the Raptors by giving them a solid forward that they can either use or flip for additional assets.
Even with how bad Vincent has been, his on-ball defense and ball-handling have been useful in spurts and there isn’t another guard to absorb those minutes. This deal retains him and Vanderbilt, who would be another terrific defensive addition once he returns, giving the Lakers a menacing lineup led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Which Deal Is Better For The Lakers?
These two variations should be enough to entice the Raptors, as it gives them enough future movement space for a player who’s out of the rotation and on an expiring contract. Brown will be the perfect guard option next to Austin Reaves in the backcourt, doing the gritty things the Lakers need from an option in that role.
The only thing Gabe Vincent is providing as a plus for the Lakers is that the deal with him and Vanderbilt should be the ideal package for the Lakers. Vanderbilt hasn’t had any time to fit into Redick’s system and will be an awkward addition when he returns. Instead of getting him up to speed with his limited offensive skill set, the Lakers can move on from him and Vincent right now in this deal.
Hachimura might not be as valuable as he was with Finney-Smith on the roster now, with Redicka actively relying on Finney-Smith in primary rotations already. However, his presence in the forward rotation is crucial for the Lakers’ success. He’s a physical option with a well-rounded skillset and would be more valuable with an addition like Brown next to him instead of replacing him.
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