The Lakers’ roster keeps shifting, and another move could be on the horizon if they want to make room for Bruce Brown.
Los Angeles has already pushed into the Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic era and made it to the second round of the playoffs before getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Even with that turnaround, the team is still hunting for ways to add talent, though it currently sits one player over the roster limit.
Brown has emerged as a realistic target. Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer said, “I think he's in the mix for the Lakers, a team that has had some interest in him for several years now," and NBA reporter Evan Sidery noted, “The Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers have recently expressed free agent interest in Bruce Brown. Now one of the best available unrestricted free agents, the versatile guard could help complete a title-contending rotation,".
That interest comes with competition, and Los Angeles would need to clear a spot before bringing him in. Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney said the Lakers would likely have to move Jaden Hardy if they want to create the space needed for a signing, adding, “If the Lakers want to make a move that would free up room to add another player-Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer mentioned Bruce Brown as a possibility-they would probably need to make deals for both Knecht and Hardy, or offload a contract like that of Bronny James,".
Hardy was acquired by the Lakers this summer in a deal for Deandre Ayton, but he now looks like a possible odd man out. If Brown lands in Los Angeles, he would give the Lakers a veteran who can handle multiple roles and help behind Doncic or Reaves.
That kind of insurance matters for a team that has seen both guards deal with injuries at times. Brown has earned $63 million in his career, and his experience could make him a useful piece in the Lakers’ rotation if they can get the roster math to work.
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For a team that has already shown it can punish defenses in transition, the obvious next step is to turn that natural edge into more pace and more pressure over the course of a game. Denvers speed on the break helped define parts of last season, and if the Nuggets can keep pushing the tempo while opponents are still trying to catch their breath, that could become another weapon in a conference that already has plenty to worry about. [Read more 🡒]