The Los Angeles Lakers have spent the better part of a decade trying to lock down a long-term solution at point guard. Since the early promise of D’Angelo Russell and Lonzo Ball, the franchise has cycled through a carousel of veterans-Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schröder, Rajon Rondo-each offering flashes but never quite cementing themselves as the answer.
In the post-LeBron era, with Luka Dončić now headlining the show, the Lakers have opted for a more committee-style approach behind him. Gabe Vincent and Marcus Smart have stepped into key supporting roles, offering defensive toughness and veteran savvy when Dončić and Austin Reaves need a breather. But even with those additions, it’s clear the Lakers haven’t stopped looking for that one guard who can lock down the position and elevate the team’s ceiling.
Turns out, they nearly found that guy in the summer of 2023.
Fresh off a championship run with the Denver Nuggets, Bruce Brown was one of the hottest names on the free agent market. He’d just wrapped up a breakout season-arguably the best of his career-averaging 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
His defensive versatility and ability to make winning plays in big moments were pivotal to Denver’s title run. Naturally, teams came calling.
According to Brown himself, during a recent podcast appearance, the Lakers were one of the most aggressive suitors. They reportedly offered him a three-year, $50 million deal to become their starting point guard-a clear sign they saw him as more than just a role player.
Brown seriously considered the offer. The fit made sense: a tough, two-way guard who could defend multiple positions and wouldn’t need the ball to be effective next to stars like Dončić and Reaves.
But in the end, money talked. Brown chose a more lucrative per-year deal from the Indiana Pacers-two years, $45 million.
While the total value was lower, the annual salary was higher, and the shorter term gave him more flexibility. He bet on himself.
That bet has had its twists and turns. Brown’s time in Indiana was short-lived, as he was traded to Toronto and then to New Orleans before eventually landing back in Denver for the 2025-26 season.
His role has shifted, too. No longer a starter, Brown is now coming off the bench for the Nuggets, averaging 6.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
His production has dipped, but his value as a glue guy remains intact.
For the Lakers, it’s another “what if” in a long line of near-misses at the point guard spot. Brown might not have been a superstar, but he brought championship pedigree, defensive grit, and a willingness to do the dirty work-exactly the kind of player who could’ve complemented their current core.
Instead, the Lakers continue their search, hoping that the mix of Dončić, Reaves, Smart, and Vincent can carry the load. But that pursuit of a long-term floor general? It’s still very much alive in Los Angeles.