NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers ‘Like’ Bruce Brown, Felt They’d Sign Him to Contract in 2023 | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers have continued to indicate curiosity in Toronto Raptors guard Bruce Brown after practically signing him as a free agent in the course of the 2023 offseason, in response to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

“I do know the Lakers like Bruce Brown,” Buha stated on his YouTube channel (47:15 mark). “They thought they had been going to get him earlier than he went to Indiana.”

The 28-year-old signed a two-year, $45 million contract with the Indiana Pacers in June 2023. He was then moved to the Raptors as a part of a blockbuster commerce involving Pascal Siakam in Jan. 2024.

Brown continues to be on the identical contract, which means that he is slated to grow to be a free agent on the finish of the 2024-25 season. With Toronto prioritizing younger gamers surrounding All-Star ahead Scottie Barnes, the Raptors look like fascinated by transferring the veteran as a substitute of watching him doubtlessly depart in the course of the summer season.

For a Lakers workforce looking for a greater supporting forged round stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Brown is an attractive possibility.

He is proven that he could be impactful while not having the ball in his fingers, making his presence felt together with his defensive acumen and rebounding instincts. Brown has averaged 6.1 rebounds per 36 minutes all through his profession and has already proven that he can thrive in a rotation with contending aspirations.