Dillon Brooks is not the most popular name among Los Angeles Lakers fans, but he could be exactly what this team needs.
Brooks combination of great perimeter defense, toughness, and versatility addresses the weaknesses the Lakers have not been able to solve. The risk? His history with LeBron James and his fiery personality, the reward? A potential catalyst for a deeper playoff push.
Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale recently highlighted Brooks as one of Los Angeles’ top trade targets, alongside New Orleans Pelicans’ Herb Jones and Portland Trail Blazers’ Robert Williams III.
Brooks could fill a desperate role on the wing for the Lakers
While controversial, Brooks fits a role the Lakers desperately need. The purple and gold need a wing who can help guard some of the opponent’s best scorers while still spacing the floor enough to keep the offense flowing.
This season has been the best of Brooks’ career. In 27 games so far with the Phoenix Suns, he is averaging 21.5 points on 45.7 percent shooting and 1.3 steals per game, all in just 31 minutes per night.
He does not need the ball constantly to make an impact, which makes him an ideal fit for a team already centred around stars. He has already shown he can play with ball-dominant players and still make an impact. Look no further than this season alone, as he is putting up career-highs while playing alongside Devin Booker.
Defensively, Brooks thrives on challenge. He made the All-Defensive Second Team in 2022–23 and takes pride in making life difficult for opposing scorers. Offensively, he is a career 35.4 percent three-point shooter on over five attempts per game, not exactly elite, but still enough to maintain spacing while remaining a threat.
The LeBron James and Dillon Brooks factor to consider
Yes, the LeBron-Brooks history is real, and yes, some fans will resist the idea. At the end of the day, it is also important to note that Los Angeles may even trade away LeBron. The Lakers need some more edge, defense, and someone unafraid to challenge opponents physically.
Brooks brings all of that, and if everything clicks, he could turn controversy into a crucial piece for a championship push. Sometimes the trade nobody wants at first turns out to be the one that works best. Dillon Brooks could be that player.