Bruce Brown Jr. Undergoes Knee Surgery. One Less Trade Option for the Lakers.

It's been a common theme this offseason: The Lakers are stuck from a roster standpoint, and getting unstuck won't be simple.
The latest illustration of this reality? Even players who are in that second tier of potential trade targets (i.e. non-stars with giant salaries) are getting problematic. Toronto's Bruce Brown underwent arthroscopic surgery last week, and will miss at least the start of training camp, and perhaps some of the start of the year. Brown's name hasn't percolated around the rumor mill much lately, but he's been a reported target for the Lakers for a couple years.
At this point, were the Lakers inclined to make a deal for Brown before the start of the season... well, that gets hard. The Lakers don't have many options, and to use some of them on a guy coming off surgery, before seeing he's healthy could be tough. Realistically, though, whether for Brown or anyone else, would the Lakers be better off at this point waiting to see how things go at the start of the year before making a move?
Learning where their holes really are? What the strengths and weaknesses of this team might be (because they won't be exactly the same as last year's, even with the same roster, given the new regime on the sidelines.
Even a hypothetical with Brown (or anyone making about the 20+ mil would require trading Rui Hachimura or D'Angelo Russell. And with that, there are trade offs. Trade a big like Rui for a smaller player like Brown, and you're sacrificing size and (in this case) shooting and adding to a logjam in the backcourt. Trade Russell and you lose playmaking (if you're not getting a PG back) and (if you're not getting a shooter) 3-point capabilities. You're also relying a lot on Gabe Vincent to be heathy and productive... and for Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood to be the same.
Again, it's complicated, and unlikely to get any less complicated anytime soon... so maybe the best solution is to gather data?
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: Bruce Brown gets surgery. Another potential trade target is banged up.
SEGMENT 2: What Brown's surgery represents, even when it's not about Brown.
SEGMENT 3: Would you trade Rui for Brown? Russell?
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[@lucasanfilippo5370]

That's a good news Indeed.. One dumb trade less..

[@Purpleandgold]

Facts! Facts! And facts! Wtf

[@WilliamHarper-el8mm]

Bruce Brown for Rui is ridiculous. 1st is the price, then size of lineup.

[@mindbendrr]

The FO kills us with offering player options to everyone. Then to not make a trade or ship out playera to make space further handicapped us

[@truckerstar24]

If anything that only lowers raptors price for brown and since he’s an expiring contract and good 2-way player teams are going to be looking for him on the cheap after he comes back from surgery. I like brown but I rather trade for Kyle kuzma & Valanciunas. Kuz makes 23 mil this year and his salary goes down the next 2 years.

[@LN-Lifer]

Thanks for the late night vids (central time) Love the show Won't lie though Wish y'all would go independent and give us longer conversations

[@LN-Lifer]

Brown is done

[@theguru6744]

I would be looking at other options instead of Brown

[@_WEsTWooD]

Listing the things that DLo brings to the team..1) you have to consider that the majority of these things will evaporate come playoff time, and 2) there’s a lack of sacrifice and a level of immaturity that he brings as well. Let’s just be frank..are we really going to be surprised if DLo is in Gary Trent Jr.’s position next offseason? Vet minimum may be a step too far ( or not?), but bi-annual or mini mid level seems right up his alley. Especially now that the CBA is in gear with the new 2nd apron rules. Safe to say he opted into the final year of his contract because he’s seen where this is heading.

[@wmcuccia1356]

Team Chemistry is so important, The 2020 Lakers had great team chemistry. Let JJ build chemistry, Rob needs to stay out of the way, take a back seat Rob. Brian they are not running back the same team if Vanderbilt and Vincent and Christie all contribute and improve even 10%. I could be wrong but a healthy Vanderbilt is more valuable than people realize, he contagious, unselfish, willing to get dirty and cover for Lebron, LeVine lacks all that and more. If Vanderbilt, Reeves, DLo and Christie are able to play minutes together with Lebron on the bench they could be very effective. Especially with AD on the floor with them.

[@mindbendrr]

The answer is yes... Zach Lavine raises the ceiling for the Lakers. We need to go get him. If we dont, we're going to see why we shouldve despite all the negativity surrounding him.

[@mindbendrr]

Rui is redundant to LBJ and if AD slides to ths 4, Ruu is obsilete. DLo is not dependable in the post season and vanishes when we need him. Zach Lavine fixes both. Adds an elite scorer from 3, mid range and the rim. Defense is comprapable but Zach fits better with AD short and longterm. Plus, we can throw in another player to clear up another roster spot to go get someone to fill any holes.

[@_WEsTWooD]

Rui with a sigh of relief

[@KevanB626]

Are we really discussing trading DLo and parts/draft picks for Bruce Brown? Terrible idea.

[@craigosterberg5045]

Go Lakers

[@MrExBearPoker]

1st off we all went into the off season expecting some kind of trade because that's what we were told. But bottom line is this. The team has been poorly managed since Rob and Magic took over. Magic worst than Rob but not by much. And we have a owner who really don't know what she's doing outside of trying to manage the business side. And all these bad moves caught up to them. And I think Jeannie killing the Indiana trade was a huge mistake.

[@wmcuccia1356]

Dear KamBros, What happen to continuity? If and it maybe a big if, but "if" Vanderbuilt and Vincent can play why won't the Lakers try to develop and build continuity. Seems like they are always chasing the player who can put them over the top and do you really believe that player really exists with the Lakers cap space limitations. Let JJ have time to develop this team?

[@wmcuccia1356]

My other question is when are people going to acknowledge the "elephant in the room" which is no team wants to help the Lakers so they will go out of the way for the Lakers to overpay for a trade of value. Just a thought. LeVine is not a winning player. He's not a game changer and is injury prone. Go back to his Ucla days, he was a real problem, not a team player, he's trouble. Just an opinion not a hater.

[@dennisknowles9293]

8:08 Brown is not better than DLO Bro😢

[@LuShaw-l7v]

U guys sick me everytime u talk about trading DLo...He's our best 3 point shooter and yet u say Lebron..loves 3point shooters..yet it's always trade Dlo🤔am in awe

[@LockedOnLakers]

@@LuShaw-l7v You really didn’t listen to what we said. AK

[@LuShaw-l7v]

@LockedOnLakers ..late in the show I heard... of but it's sad it's always our best 3 point shooter u guy want to trade

[@LockedOnLakers]

@@LuShaw-l7v *We've* never pushed hard to trade D'Lo, though. If anything, we've stressed that trading him is tricky because he's arguably the team's third-best player. But D'Lo frequently comes up because his salary will be necessary to make most impactful trades happen... and because THE LAKERS have been trying to deal him. That's just the reality of the situation. We can't have honest conversations about most trades without bringing D'Lo into them. AK

[@LockedOnLakers]

@@LuShaw-l7v "You guys" don't want to trade him. We're willing to, obviously, in the right deal (as anyone should be). But we spend more time talking about the stuff they'd lose if D'Lo goes than most. Including, in this episode, playmaking, 3-point shooting and offense more broadly were he to go for someone like Brown. BK

[@ChristopherVenard]

Have you watched the playoffs the last two seasons? D'Lo is a proven playoff choker. The Lakers play for championships.

[@terrencefields5265]

You guys proves that coming to LA was the worst decision of his life and he is even a bigger fool for staying there 😎🤬

[@gregpollard7158]

Bruce Brown knows He was only being used as a Trade Chip so He said, [I’m gone get a needed Surgery to ensure I stay here the entire Year then, enter FA after the Season]. He will most likely not get $20+ Mil a Year but, be able to choose the Team He wants to play on and make $10-$12 Mil. Side Note - Bruce Brown has been on 5 Teams in 7 Years.

[@LockedOnLakers]

@@gregpollard7158 That would be an absolutely stupid plan, considering Brown’s coming off a down season and people are already wondering whether his success in Denver was a Jokic byproduct, rather than his own talent. For him to purposely miss part of a contract year season with that backdrop makes zero sense. And in the age of this new CBA, the idea of Brown easily getting $10-12M under those circumstances is suspect, if not pure fantasy. I highly doubt that’s what is happening here. AK

[@buddylee7458]

An even worse plan would be to trade a starter along with assets for a player coming off knee surgery that has yet to return to the level of performance he had in Denver.

[@gregpollard7158]

@@LockedOnLakers - Great Points and I appreciate the response Bro AK bcuz LOL is one of the Programs that I Always tap into. Response: Preface - The majority of my initial thoughts were assumptions. I don’t think staying in Toronto was His primary goal but, I think He needed the Surgery and He had a choice to wait or get it done now and based on His playing time last year, He knows He is not part of TOR Future Plans, will most likely be a 6th Man this Year and when He was Traded, it would’ve been His 6th Team in 8 Years which, impacts His Value. Along with the possibility of Him not passing another team’s physical and that being in the news. I think He took a calculated risk and chose this option where He has more control over His Destiny/Future. And, I agree His value might not be $10-$12 Mil but, closer to $5-$8 Mil which, would’ve made US giving up D’Lo or Rui for Him, Questionable @ best and [Not Smart] @ Worse.

[@gregpollard7158]

@@LockedOnLakers - - I left this Super Long Thesis Like Response and none of it is Showing - 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️ Short Version: • Great Points Brotha AK & Appreciate the Response. • The Majority of My Initial Response were assumptions based on My Experience as a former College/Pro Athlete and I could be completely wrong. • I think BB is in a Tough Situation and He chose the option that gives Him the most control of His Destiny/Future in the NBA which, if not played correctly could lead to Him being out of the NBA @ 32/33 - He chose to get a Needed Surgery now and bet on Himself in 25 FA opposed to be on His 6th Team in 8 Years with the possibility of failing the Trade Physical and being considered as “Damaged Goods”. • You’re Right - His current value is most likely not $10-$12 Mil but, closer to $5-$8 Mil which, makes US being willing to give up D’Lo or Rui along with other assets for Him as Questionable @ Best and [Not Smart] @ Worse.

[@gregpollard7158]

@@LockedOnLakers - I left this Super Long Thesis Like Response and none of it is Showing - 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️ Short Version: • Great Points Brotha AK & Appreciate the Response. • The Majority of My Initial Response we’re assumptions based on My Experience as a former College/Pro Athlete and I could be completely wrong. • I think BB is in a Tough Situation and He chose the option that gives Him the most control of His Destiny/Future in the NBA which, if not played correctly could lead to Him being out of the NBA @ 32/33 - He chose to get a Needed Surgery now and bet on Himself in 25 FA opposed to be on His 6th Team in 8 Years with the possibility of failing the Trade Physical and being considered as “Damaged Goods”.

[@deddiev1718]

Stop with the misinformation. If you trade DLo you have already created space. No need to make up something about where are we going to create space

[@LockedOnLakers]

I don't understand what you mean. Can you rephrase? AK

[@lcceo22]

Lmao this dude is NOT a good trade option He never was And signing him was always a bad idea He torched the Lakers Good for him. But he’s been extremely overrated ever since

[@Daangelvid360]

Trading DLo+JHS for Brown is a Big mistake, thank god we didn't make it, DLo alone >>> let alone including the kiddo