Lakers fans should be outraged at Malcolm Brogdon price as Pacers trade drags on

The Los Angeles Lakers can pretend all they want that Russell Westbrook is going to be a valued member of the roster this season, but all signs point to him eventually getting booted as Darvin Ham tries to make his mark on the club. All trades that have been mentioned to this point have fizzled out.

The Indiana Pacers have been the most active trade partner in Westbrook talks, as they have been willing to give up names like Myles Turner and Buddy Hield if it means they can get first-round picks back in a deal that shackles them with Westbrook’s contract.

Getting a quality shooter like Hield and rim protector like Turner, for all his flaws, could be something worthwhile for the Lakers to pursue as they attempt to climb back into the contender tier. The issue stems from the fact that the Pacers are unwilling to adjust their asking price.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Indiana was reportedly asking for both Westbrook and Talen Horton-Tucker (who has since been traded to Utah for Patrick Beverley) along with multiple first-round picks. Where was this negotiating determination when they gave Malcolm Brogdon away to Boston for cheap?

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The Lakers need a player with Brogdon’s exact skillset. Able to handle the ball, defend multiple positions, and score efficiently and effectively without dominating the ball, Brogdon would’ve been a better off-ball offensive player than Westbrook alongside LeBron James.

Turner’s injury history and Hield’s incredibly poor defense make them less desirable trade assets than someone like Brogdon, yet the Pacers were willing to give him away for pennies on the dollar. Westbrook can still stuff a stat sheet on his best day despite all of his issues with the Lakers, so what’s the hold-up?

The Pacers will be bad next year, but the way they’ve gone about selling off their assets makes no sense. They’re digging their heels in on getting multiple first-round picks for Westbrook, yet they were willing to send Brogdon away for a better team in exchange for a bunch of scraps? Make it make sense!

The Lakers need to keep Kevin Pritchard on the phone, as this Pacers deal makes the most sense for both parties involved. If Pritchard’s resolve eventually starts to crack, the Lakers can finally get a deal done and put an end to all of this consternation over Hield and Turner.

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