Report: Lakers Still Interested In Trading For Raptors’ Bruce Brown

According to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Los Angeles Lakers are still interested in trading for Toronto Raptors guard Bruce Brown. 

The Lakers tried to acquire Brown at the 2024 NBA trade deadline. 

The Raptors picked up Brown’s 2024-25 team option and are trying to trade him. 

“Speaking of the Raptors, they continue to explore the market for interest in veteran swingman Bruce Brown, who is entering the final year of his contract at $23 million,” Siegel reported. “Brown is highly regarded around the league for his positional versatility as well as his ability to make winning plays that don’t always show up in the stats. The 27-year-old held a big role during the Denver Nuggets’ championship run in 2023, and his expiring contract will be appealing to several playoff-contending franchises.

“The Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks are two teams that showed interest in Brown last season, sources said, and Los Angeles maintains interest in him this offseason.”

Brown played for the Indiana Pacers and Raptors this past season. He averaged 10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks while shooting 47.8% from the field, 32.3% from beyond the arc and 82.4% from the free-throw line. 

A one-time NBA champion, Brown has career averages of 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Pacers and Raptors.

The Lakers went 47-35 in 2023-24. They lost to the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs in five games.

Denver also beat Los Angeles in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. 

Former NBA guard JJ Redick signed a four-year deal worth in the neighborhood of $8 million per season with the Lakers, who fired Darvin Ham after two seasons.

According to NBA insiders Shams Charania, Jovan Buha and Sam Amick of The Athletic, Redick is focused on elevating Anthony Davis’ involvement and alleviating LeBron James‘ workload.

LeBron, 39, is the oldest player in the NBA. He turns 40 in December.