TRADE: What Raptors’ Bruce Brown said amid tranfer links to lakers raises eyebrows

The Los Angeles Lakers have been very interested in 27-year-old guard Bruce Brown since the start of NBA free agency.

Initially, it seemed like Brown would join the Indiana Pacers after they offered him a two-year, $45 million contract.  However, things changed, and he was traded to the Toronto Raptors as part of the Pascal Siakam deal. Now, the Lakers are once again connected to Brown, and there’s a possibility he might be traded once more due to the Raptors’ focus on developing a young core.

According to TSN’s Josh Lewenberg, the Raptors are open to trading all players except Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett.

“This team is going through a period of transition, and despite already making significant changes, Ujiri has made it clear that they are still open to making deals before the February 8 trade deadline. According to multiple sources, it’s evident that the Raptors are willing to engage in trade discussions, and they are considering all options except for Barnes and the two former Knicks players. According to Lewenberg, the team is open to trading their veteran players such as Trent, Schroder, Boucher, the recently acquired Brown, and possibly Poeltl in exchange for draft picks or promising young players that would accelerate their rebuilding process. It seems unlikely that they would pass up on such opportunities”

The recent report, which surfaced one week after ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski discussed the Lakers and Brown on “NBA Countdown” and reiterated it a few days later, it is highly probable that Lakers GM Rob Pelinka will be spending a significant amount of time on the phone leading up to the February 8 trade deadline. Wojnarowski previously mentioned that Brown has been the player the Lakers have been actively targeting ever since their loss to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals last year.

The Raptors’ reported willingness to trade almost any player, including Brown, is significant, and it generates particular intrigue for the Lakers.

The Lakers have been associated with various players, including Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks, suggesting that they are increasingly inclined to make some changes as time progresses. However, it remains uncertain how active they will be, and the more intriguing question is whether it’s possible for them to acquire both Brown and Murray. The Hawks are likely demanding a high price for Murray, making it unlikely for the Lakers to realistically pursue acquiring him.