According to NBA insider Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in trading for Toronto Raptors guards Dennis Schroder and Bruce Brown.
Schroder played for the Lakers last season, while Brown almost signed with LAL in the summer before joining the Indiana Pacers.
“The Toronto Raptors have two players on their roster the Lakers have interest in as well, sources said: Dennis Schroder and Bruce Brown,” McMenamin wrote. “Schroder was L.A.’s backup point guard last season before signing with Toronto for the full midlevel exception in the summer.”
The Pacers traded Brown to the Raptors, who are expected to move the NBA champion before the February 8 trade deadline. Brown has been linked to the Lakers, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks. He’s averaging 11.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks this season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dennis Schroder, Bruce Brown, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Meanwhile, Schroder is averaging 13.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.1 blocks. He has a close relationship with Lakers head coach Darvin Ham.
“With the Raptors already completing a trade with the New York Knicks to acquire two ball-dominant players in RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, Schroder could become expendable,” McMenamin wrote. “And Brown was the Lakers’ top target with their midlevel exception in the offseason, team sources told ESPN, but L.A. got priced out, with the Indiana Pacers offering Brown a two-year, $45 million contract.”
The Lakers are 22-23 on the season. They are in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. The team is expected to make moves before the trade deadline since they haven’t looked like a title contender following their In-Season Tournament championship run in Las Vegas.
Brown signed a two-year, $45 million contract with the Pacers last offseason. He’s making $22 million this season. Brown has a club option worth $23 million for next season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dennis Schroder, Bruce Brown, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Meanwhile, Schroder signed a two-year, $25 million contract with the Raptors. He’s making $12.4 million this season. Schroder will make $13 million next season.
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