{"id":202610,"date":"2025-10-05T02:16:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T02:16:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/202610\/"},"modified":"2025-10-05T02:16:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-05T02:16:10","slug":"nba-trade-rumors-los-angeles-lakers-should-target-85-million-ex-indiana-pacers-superstar-to-form-big-3-with-luka-and-lebron-nba-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/202610\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Should Target $85 Million ex-Indiana Pacers Superstar to Form Big 3 With Luka and LeBron | NBA News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"NBALos Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) and Luka Doncic (77) hug during the NBA basketball team’s media day in El Segundo, Calif (Image via AP Photo\/Jae C. Hong) The Los Angeles Lakers could be exploring an interesting NBA trade rumor where the team could benefit from acquiring Malcolm Brogdon to create a formidable Big 3 alongside Luka Doncic<\/a> and LeBron James. Brogdon, the 2017 Rookie of the Year and 2022\u201323 Sixth Man of the Year, offers versatile two-way play and veteran leadership that aligns with the Lakers\u2019 championship ambitions. Here\u2019s an in-depth look at why targeting Brogdon makes sense – and how it would transform the Lakers into a title juggernaut.<\/p>\n

Marcus Smart\u2019s Early Setback Raises Concerns<\/p>\n

Marcus Smart<\/a>, known for his defensive grit and leadership, was brought in to strengthen Los Angeles\u2019 perimeter defense. Yet, his 2025-26 season has not started as planned. The veteran guard missed the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 first preseason game against the Phoenix Suns due to an injury setback, raising questions about his long-term reliability throughout the season.With Smart\u2019s availability uncertain and the Los Angeles Lakers aiming to maintain depth around Don\u010di\u0107, general manager Rob Pelinka might soon be forced to explore alternative options.<\/p>\n

Malcolm Brogdon: The Potential Answer from New York<\/p>\n

\"Malcolm<\/p>\n

Malcolm Brogdon (Image via Getty)<\/p>\n

One name that stands out is Malcolm Brogdon – the 6-foot-4 former Rookie of the Year who is currently fighting for a roster spot with the New York Knicks. As Dean Simon of The Sporting News noted, \u201cThough it might not appear plausible, the Knicks\u2019s Malcolm Brogdon may be an excellent target if he falls out of their plans following the conclusion of camp.\u201dBrogdon\u2019s situation in New York remains uncertain. The 32-year-old appeared briefly in the Knicks\u2019 99-84 preseason win over the Philadelphia 76ers, logging just 12 minutes while recording three points and two assists.<\/p>\n

Garrison Mathews\u2019 Emergence Complicates Things for Brogdon<\/p>\n

The Knicks\u2019 recent training camp addition, Garrison Mathews, made a strong impression in the same game, scoring 9 points and hitting three of his four three-point attempts. His hot shooting and energy could tilt the team\u2019s final roster decisions, potentially leaving Brogdon\u2019s role in jeopardy.If Mathews and other players on non-guaranteed deals continue their strong play, Malcolm Brogdon might find himself on the outside looking in by the end of training camp – creating an opening for the Lakers to swoop in.<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 Big 3 Vision<\/p>\n

Building around Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and LeBron James has pushed the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> to search for complementary, durable, and unselfish role players who can elevate the team\u2019s title hopes without demanding heavy usage. Malcolm Brogdon fits that mold perfectly. He\u2019s not a high-volume scorer, but an efficient one who thrives on smart shot selection, steady defense, and playmaking balance.Adding Brogdon gives Los Angeles a trio that can manage possessions efficiently, minimize turnovers, and stretch defenses with versatile shooting and passing. His presence would allow Don\u010di\u0107 to operate more off the ball and give LeBron the flexibility to conserve energy for clutch moments and playoff pushes.Player2024-25 StatsStrengthsWeaknesses Luka Don\u010di\u0107 Avg: 33.7 PPG, 9.2 APG, 8.7 RPG [last season] Elite shot-making, playmaking, scoring versatility Needs defensive help LeBron James Avg: 27.2 PPG, 7.5 APG, 7.3 RPG [last season] Experience, clutch factor, basketball IQ Age, injury risk Malcolm Brogdon Avg: 12.7 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.8 RPG [2024-25][2] Shooting, secondary playmaking, defensive reliability Injury concernsBrogdon\u2019s $22\u201325 million contract is seen as fair value in today\u2019s cap landscape, especially for a proven veteran who can make a tangible impact in high-pressure playoff games. His ability to mesh seamlessly with Don\u010di\u0107 and LeBron would form a balanced \u201cBig 3\u201d – one that blends youth, experience, and efficiency – and could help Los Angeles reclaim its spot among the league\u2019s elite contenders.<\/p>\n

Malcolm Brogdon\u2019s Career Highlights and Potential Impact<\/p>\n

\"Lakers<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, left, grabs a rebound away from Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards, center, as center Jaxson Hayes reaches in (Image via AP Photo\/Mark J. Terrill)<\/p>\n

Malcolm Brogdon brings experience, poise, and proven production. Despite an injury-limited stint with the Washington Wizards last season, where he averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game, his shooting track record remains elite. Over his career, he\u2019s maintained a 38.8% mark from three-point range – a valuable asset for a Los Angeles Lakers team that could benefit from more spacing around Don\u010di\u0107.<\/p>\n

Brogdon’s Career Snapshot<\/p>\n

SeasonTeamGames PlayedPointsAssistsRebounds3PT% 2024-25 Washington Wizards 24 12.7 4.1 3.8 38.8 Career Avg Multiple Teams \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 38.8In addition to his shooting prowess, Brogdon\u2019s leadership and ability to run an offense make him a strong candidate to mentor younger guards while balancing the floor with Don\u010di\u0107 and Smart.<\/p>\n

What It Would Take for the Los Angeles Lakers to Land Him<\/p>\n

To bring Brogdon aboard, the Los Angeles Lakers would likely need to clear a roster spot – either through waiving a player or constructing a small trade. His experience and accolades could justify such a move.<\/p>\n

Brogdon\u2019s Accolades at a Glance<\/p>\n

\u2022 2017 NBA Rookie of the Year \u2022 2023 Sixth Man of the Year \u2022 Career 38.8% three-point shooter \u2022 Proven floor general and veteran locker-room presenceWith championship aspirations driving the Los Angeles Lakers, adding a reliable veteran like Brogdon could stabilize their guard rotation and enhance their shot creation behind Don\u010di\u0107.<\/p>\n

Is This a Move Worth Considering?<\/p>\n

If Malcolm Brogdon\u2019s Knicks stint ends after training camp, the Los Angeles Lakers could have an ideal opportunity to bolster their roster with a skilled, experienced guard capable of contributing immediately.Also read: NBA Trade Rumors: Golden State Warriors Could Bag $74 Million Sacramento Kings Small Forward to Support Stephen Curry; Jonathan Kuminga Key Trade Asset?<\/a>Given his accolades, shooting efficiency, and steady presence, Brogdon might be precisely the kind of under-the-radar addition Los Angeles needs to stay in contention for the Larry O\u2019Brien Trophy in 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) and Luka Doncic (77) hug during the NBA basketball team’s media day…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":202611,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[116624,6306,68907,43361,1055,25154,355,32803,99],"class_list":["post-202610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-brogdon","tag-lakers","tag-lakers-trade-rumors","tag-lebron","tag-los-angeles-lakers","tag-malcolm-brogdon","tag-nba","tag-nba-trade-rumors","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=202610"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202610\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/202611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=202610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=202610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=202610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}