The Los Angeles Lakers are interested in acquiring Bruce Brown from the Toronto Raptors, according to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
The Raptors are expected to trade Brown after acquiring the NBA champion from the Indiana Pacers in the blockbuster Pascal Siakam trade.
“If the Toronto Raptors decide to move on from Bruce Brown Jr., the Lakers will have interest in acquiring him, according to team sources,” Buha wrote. “The Lakers coveted Brown last summer and believed they were the favorites to sign him using the team’s nontaxpayer midlevel exception before Indiana swooped in with a cap-space offer.”
Brown signed a two-year, $45 million contract with the Pacers last offseason in free agency. The Miami product is making $22 million this season. He has a club option worth $23 million for next season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Los Angeles Lakers, Bruce Brown, Toronto Raptors Updates
In 33 games with the Pacers, Brown averaged 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.2 blocks while shooting 47.5% from the field, 32.7% from beyond the arc and 81.7% from the free-throw line.
In his first game with the Raptors, Brown put up 15 points, seven rebounds and one assist against the Chicago Bulls while shooting 7-of-10 overall and 1-of-3 from 3.
Brown has career averages of 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Pacers and Raptors. The 27-year-old helped the Nuggets win the 2023 championship over the Miami Heat in five games.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Los Angeles Lakers, Bruce Brown, Toronto Raptors Updates
The Lakers are expected to make trades at the NBA trade deadline. LAL is 21-21 on the season. They are in 10th place in the Western Conference standings.
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