Around the NBA, some teams are just waiting to make a trade. Some of them are obvious. Typically, we’re talking about rebuilding teams that have useful veterans on them.
By that measure, perhaps no team is as positioned to make a deal as the Portland Trail Blazers. In all likelihood, they’ll move Malcolm Brogdon this season. How could they not? This team is rebuilding.
Scoot Henderson is their franchise player, and Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe are young players with star upside as well. Brogdon is in the way. He’s only on this team because they intend on moving him in due time.
Could the Los Angeles Lakers make a move as well? They’re a less obvious candidate than the Blazers. Still, the Lakers are a contending team with some young players to spare – the opposite of the Blazers.
Could they spare some of those young players in exchange for Brogdon?
NBA Trade Proposal — Los Angeles Lakers Land Anfernee Simons
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: F Rui Hachimura, G Gabe Vincent, C Jaxson Hayes, G/F Cam Reddish
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Malcolm Brogdon, G/F Matisse Thybulle
With that said, neither one of these teams is guaranteed to make a trade. This is the NBA – nothing is guaranteed. Typically, we can justify a number of decisions that a team may make.
For example, take the Blazers. This team may not want to rebuild for an extended period of time. In theory, they could start Sharpe and Simons alongside Henderson and use Malcolm Brogdon as a sixth man.
Who knows? That arrangement could get the Blazers back into the playoff hunt in a couple of short years. On the other hand, the Lakers may not be in that race for much longer.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Malcolm Brogdon, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Is that why they’re adding young players? It may be that the Lakers are preparing for the future. On the other hand, they could also be preparing for a trade.
Would this be the right move?
Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
Gabe Vincent was one of the more interesting acquisitions that the Lakers made this summer. D’Angelo Russell is the presumptive starter, but the Lakers may have wanted an off-ball player with some defensive value to round out their rotation.
Sure. Why not land a point guard who can play make, shoot, and defend? That’s Brogdon. If he can stay healthy, he’d be the best point guard on this Lakers roster.
He’s a better defender and shooter than Russell, and a more dynamic offensive player than Vincent. Brogdon offers the Lakers the best of both worlds.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Malcolm Brogdon, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Meanwhile, Thybulle isn’t a mere throw-in, either. He’s one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, and his three-point percentage actually spiked last season. He’ll help the contending Lakers this season as well.
Should the Blazers give him up?
Why The Portland Trail Blazers Do The Deal
For Portland, this may feel like a poo-poo platter. To an extent, it is. Yet, it might be as good as they’ll do for Brogdon. He allegedly has major injury concerns. Teams could be apprehensive to part with significant draft capital in order to land such a risky player.
This is still a good return for a rebuilding team. The Blazers are getting a lot of interesting young players here. Most notably, they’re landing Hachimura. He looked like a breakout player in the 2022-23 playoffs. This could be a key player for the Blazers moving forward.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Malcolm Brogdon, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Otherwise, Reddish and Hayes have got some upside as well. If Brogdon is having a strong 2022-23 season, the Blazers may want to hold out for an unprotected first. Otherwise, this is a good return for them. If nothing else, they’ll have finally made a trade.
