Analyst calls on Rob Pelinka to sign $23M champion for deep playoff push after LA Lakers trade D'Angelo Russell

The LA Lakers retooled their roster before the NBA trade deadline by sending D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three future second-round picks to Brooklyn. In return, Rob Pelinka added Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. DFS adds a much-needed boost in 3-point shooting and defense, while Milton has been a solid combo guard.

NBA analyst Jason Timpf, in his podcast, had this to say about the move:

“In order for the LA Lakers to reach where they wanna reach, they need an upgrade at the 2 to slot Max [Christie] as the backup 2 and get a guy like Cam Reddish out of the rotation. A guy like Bruce Brown is a guy I have my eye on.

“If you put a guy like Bruce, a guy like Dorian between Austin [Reaves], LeBron [James] and AD [Davis], that team has the two-way potential to win multiple playoff rounds. Without that type of move, I don’t think Dorian Finney-Smith changes the Lakers’ fortune that much.”

According to Timpf, JJ Redick must move Rui Hachimura to the bench as the Japanese star is not a natural small forward. The analyst suggested that Finney-Smith would be the perfect player for that role while the shooting guard position should be improved. For Timp, Max Christie is too inconsistent to help the LA Lakers win in the postseason.

Bruce Brown, on the Toronto Raptors’ payroll for $23 million, becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season. The Raptors might be looking for compensation for a player who hasn’t played yet this season.

Brown has been solid over the last four years, averaging 9.9 points per game on 49.1% shooting, including 34.8% from deep. The 27-year-old guard played a big role in the Denver Nuggets’ 2023 championship run.

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The LA Lakers reportedly had an interest in Bruce Brown before the Dorian Finney-Smith trade

Two weeks ago, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that the LA Lakers were primarily interested in Jonas Valanciunas, Cam Johnson and/or Dorian Finney-Smith. In that same report, the NBA insider included:

“Other names that have come up in talks with team and league personnel over the past few weeks include Utah’s Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton, Toronto’s Bruce Brown Jr., Portland’s Jerami Grant and Robert Williams III and Washington’s Kyle Kuzma.”

Only time will tell if Rob Pelinka will go after Brown after acquiring Finney-Smith. Pelinka will likely face competition for the veteran guard’s services so it remains to be seen what assets he would give up to pursue him.