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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

The Los Angeles Lakers will be actively prowling the trade market as the deadline draws near. They face significant gaps in their offensive front and will look to make some major moves. To this effect, NBA Insider Shams Charania says that the Lakers have already set their target on some players. He says, “The Lakers are doing their due diligence. Dejounte Murray, Bruce Brown Jr., who just got traded to Raptors, Tyus Jones, Terry Rozier, I’m told those are names to keep an eye on.”

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According to him, the Lakers have also been actively engaged in “extensive conversations” with the Hawks for their guard Dejounte Murray, and it was centered around D’Angelo Russell, a 2029 first-draft pick and a pick swap. However, the holdup on the Hawks‘ side was that they wanted to find a third team for D’Angelo, and he has a player option for the upcoming season. Likewise, they are looking to work with an expiring contract instead.

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Nonetheless, Shams is confident that a deal between the two could happen just before the trade deadline on 8th February. Apart from the Lakers, other teams are keeping a close eye on Dejounte. This includes the Sixers, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat, the Spurs, and the Golden State Warriors. Given that Dejounte’s name has received the most attention in the trade market thus far, this is not surprising. So, if the Lakers are serious about acquiring him, they need to quickly make an enticing deal with the Hawks.

On the other hand, we have Bruce Brown, whose time with the Raptors might not be as long as we had anticipated.

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Bruce Brown shouldn’t get too settled in Toronto

Brown was part of the deal that sent Siakam Pascal to the Pacers. But lately, it looks like the 27-year-old wouldn’t have to spend much time in Toronto because his name has been thrown around as trade potential yet again. It seems like the Raptors value the forward more as a trade asset than as an on-court contributor. As of now, the Lakers and the Knicks are seen as contenders for Brown.

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Considering this, Toronto won’t easily give him up. As per Marc Stein of CBS Sports, they will at least want “a future first-round pick and a quality player … at a minimum,” in exchange for him. Despite the high demand, Toronto has an upper hand in the negotiations because Brown comes with a player option for the next season. In other words, the team that trades for Brown will have control for an additional year, or Toronto can simply take him back again.

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Brown was part of the Nuggets team that took home their maiden Championship last season. This experience could be a prime factor in his trade associations with the Lakers. For now, the Lakers seem more focused on Dejounte.

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What are your thoughts on all these rumors? Let us know in the comments!

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Tsuktibenla T Jamir

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Tsuktibenla is an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports, whose love affair with basketball began at the age of 16, sparking a passion that has kept her actively playing ever since. Representing her school and college in various tournaments, she earned the title of MVP in several instances despite contending with multiple injuries. A graduate in English Literature, she pursued a Master's in Journalism to solidify her place in sports journalism. At the ES Desk, she is responsible for analyzing predictive lineups, injury reports, and breaking down player performances intricately. Despite her inclination towards a low-key lifestyle and the comfort of solitude, Tsuktibenla occasionally engages in NBA 2K or EA FIFA sessions with friends.

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Ruth John

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