Grade the trade: Lakers add Dillon Brooks in absurd proposal
By Tyler Watts
The Los Angeles Lakers enter the 2023-24 campaign believing they can hang banner number 18 in the rafters. They reached the conference finals last season, despite having to go through the Play-In Tournament. LeBron James turns 39 in December, and it is now or never for the GOAT.
The Lakers upgraded their roster this summer by adding Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, and Christian Wood. They brought back Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura in free agency. Los Angeles has depth and top-end talent, but must stay healthy to make a deep playoff run.
LeBron James did not make friends with Dillon Brooks in the playoffs as the Lakers topped the Grizzlies in the first round. The 6’7 wing went to Houston this summer, but he continues to talk trash on the league’s all-time leading scorer. There is some bad blood, but would LA’s front office consider trading for Brooks if he became available?
The Los Angeles Lakers want shooting and defense around LeBron James.
Putting shooting and defense around LeBron has proven to be a winning formula in the past. King James gets the star talent onboard and finds role players to space the floor and play stout defense.
The Lakers missed the playoffs in 2022 with Russell Westbrook, and it was his trade that turned things around last season. They were 29th in 3-pointers made, 26th in 3-point percentage, and 20th in defensive rating before the deal was finalized on Feb. 9. Los Angeles flipped to 20th, 15th, and third down the stretch of the regular season. The Lakers carried it into the playoffs and won two series before being swept by the eventual champion Nuggets in the conference finals.
The Los Angeles Lakers may look to put more shooting and defense around LeBron James and Anthony Davis before the trade deadline, but would they consider Dillon Brooks? The latest trade proposal has the franchise acquiring him.