The Los Angeles Lakers weren't particularly happy when they lost Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets over the summer. That's one of the reasons why it would be an exceedingly good idea for the Lakers to look at pursuing Dillon Brooks at the trade deadline and in doing so, getting the last laugh with Houston.
Not only would doing this eliminate one of LeBron James' biggest agitators and put him in the Purple and Gold, but it would give LA that three-and-D wing that can act as a point-of-attack defender that they've been looking for. This could be the Lakers' prime opportunity to get a DFS upgrade and get a player that the Rockets really didn't want to give up during the offseason.
Brooks would immediately give the Lakers a far more versatile defensive identity. JJ Redick has leaned into more aggressive ball pressure this season, and while the team has bought into that approach, it's clear they lack a perimeter stopper who can take the hardest assignment every night.
Dillon does that naturally. He's been a massive tone-setter on defense in Phoenix this season, and he remains one of the few wings in the league who genuinely embraces guarding elite scorers for 30 minutes a night. That's the kind of presence the Lakers have missed since losing Finney-Smith.
Dillon Brooks is exactly what the Lakers need
There is also much to be said about the competitive edge Brooks brings. The Lakers have played disciplined and structured basketball under Redick, but there are stretches where they look too reliant on Luka Doncic to manufacture emotion and pace. Brooks is disruptive, loud, confident, and relentless. For a team with championship ambitions, injecting that kind of energy into the rotation can be a real advantage when you get into the nitty gritty of the season.
Even offensively, Brooks fits LA's ecosystem. He's been shooting the ball very well since he arrived in Phoenix and has shown he can thrive in systems that ask him to be a low-usage floor spacer who hits open threes. Playing next to Doncic and LeBron would simplify his role even further, turning him into a catch-and-shoot threat without as much burden of creating off the dribble.
Money-wise, the Lakers would need to be strategic, but they have multiple tradable contracts and enough mid-tier salaries to construct a package that works. More importantly, Brooks is under contract at a reasonable number for his production. This would be an investment in a player who fills one of the team’s clearest needs.
Ultimately, a move like this should be obvious. The Lakers are good, but not good enough to withstand the firepower at the top of the West without another defensive anchor on the wing. If they can steal Brooks from the Suns in February, it changes everything.