Indiana Pacers Receive: G Russell Westbrook, 2026 First-Round Pick (Swap – LAL), 2027 First-Round Pick

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Malcolm Brogdon, G Buddy Hield

If you’re the Los Angeles Lakers, why stop at Buddy Hield?

This team is utterly desperate to improve next year. The clock is ticking. LeBron James is nearing both retirement and the end of his contract. Stagnation should not be an option for this club.

This deal has them landing a whole new backcourt. Brogdon, in some respects, is the opposite of Westbrook. He’s not an elite athlete, but he’s a smart decision-maker who spaces the floor when he’s off the ball. He’s also a stout defender who isn’t prone to listlessness or ill-advised gambling.

In other words, he’s the perfect floor general for LeBron James. This deal gives the Lakers a much more cleanly fitting roster than the one they had in 2021-22. It should make them a more competitive team. Granted, it’ll cost them a first-round pick and a swap.

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In their current situation, they can’t afford to worry about that. With a 37-year-old LeBron James on the squad, this team needs to be fully situated in the here-and-now.