Lakers: Pass or pursue 4 “realistic” trade targets to help LeBron James

Should the Los Angeles Lakers pass or pursue Malcolm Brogdon?

The idea behind the Los Angeles Lakers potentially trading for Malcolm Brogdon was birthed after a Shams Charania article. Shams named the Indiana Pacers as a team that could trade for Russell Westbrook if they are interested in tanking next season and want to free up money in the future.

The contracts that they would “free up” would be Malcolm Brogdon and Buddy Hield. In theory, the package then becomes Westbrook and draft compensation for Brogdon and Hield, which of course is an excellent trade for the Los Angeles Lakers.

In reality, this trade makes absolutely no sense for the Pacers. Indiana just extended Brogdon, who is the team’s best player, before the 2021-22 season. Plus, they also traded for Buddy Hield. Granted, he was in the deal to make the money work in the Domantas Sabonis deal, but they knew what they were getting.

Even if the Pacers wanted to trade these guys they can get so much more value from other teams than trading for the worst contract in the sport. Any contending team would be willing to trade young players and future assets for Brogdon, who would fit nicely on any contending team. Hield may not have as deep of a market but it certainly would be better than just getting Westbrook.

If Westbrook is the only thing that the Pacers can get for Brogdon and Hield then chances are they are just going to hold onto the players and wait for the value to increase at the deadline.

Heck, might as well trade them to the Rockets for John Wall. If that trade sounds absurd, but the Westbrook one does not, then you are looking at the trade through purple and gold-tinted glasses.

Verdict: Pass, for the Pacers