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By Justin Grasso
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Los Angeles Lakers might be one of the Western Conference’s top teams in January, but they are far from flawless.
With the NBA trade deadline roughly one month away, the Lakers are expected to operate as buyers in the market. Currently, a two-way wing is what they seem to be on the hunt for.
This week, the former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins floated an idea for the Lakers, which would certainly shock the league.
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He suggested that the Lakers should trade for the Phoenix Suns sharpshooter Dillon Brooks, sending out the homegrown standout, Austin Reaves.
DeMarcus Cousins Makes a Shocking Suggestion
“In a heartbeat [I’d make that trade],” Cousins said regarding a Brooks-Reaves swap of some sort.
“He’s a culture changer, he’s a proven winner. We talk about all of the glaring holes when it comes to this Lakers team. He fits exactly what they need right now. He’s also averaging about 22, 23, possibly 24 a game. You’re getting a two-way player compared to a one-sided player. Why wouldn’t you do it? I think we get caught up in names and highlights and all that. We’re talking about building a championship team.”
The narrative surrounding Dillon Brooks has changed drastically over the past few months.
When Brooks was a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, he was recognized as a notorious trash talker who had a knack for getting under his opponents’ skin.
Over six seasons in Memphis, Brooks averaged 14.5 points and shot 34 percent from three.
Ultimately, Brooks’ on-court antics overshadowed his true value. When the Grizzlies moved him to the Houston Rockets via sign-and-trade in 2023, not many saw it as a major loss for Memphis.
Brooks’ scoring took a slight dip to 13.4 points per game, but his three-point efficiency climbed to 38 percent over two seasons. He was a strong contributor to a Houston team that overperformed during the regular season one year ago. The narrative started changing, but his 29-game run with Phoenix has completely re-shaped it.
The Suns have a star-caliber version of Brooks, who is averaging 21.4 points per game on 34 percent shooting from deep. As he’s become a go-to scorer, he hasn’t lost his edge on defense, Brooks is still getting the best of his competitors (LeBron James, too), and having the numbers to back everything up.
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Why the Lakers Should be Hesitant
It’s no secret the Lakers need help on defense.
However, Reaves has shown a lot more consistency on offense compared to Brooks over time. Since becoming a 20-plus scorer on a nightly basis last year, Reaves has averaged 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from three on high volume.
This year, Reaves has averaged 26.6 points per game. He fit well alongside Luka Doncic, and even played well as the primary option when he was out.
With Reaves, the Lakers have gone 15-8 this season. He’s currently nursing a setback, which will keep him off the court for a few weeks at least.
All things considered, the Lakers are more than likely going to be hesitant to move Reaves in any deal. For starters, he’s a homegrown player, who has been around the organization since 2021. Since last season, he has built up a strong bond with Luka Doncic.
LA is likely to lean more towards the younger and more dynamic offensive player.
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