Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Malcolm Brogdon

Indiana Pacers Receive: F Kyle Kuzma, C Montrezl Harrell (Player Option), and LAL 2021 1st Round Pick (Pick #22, Post-Draft)

If Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front-office were able to pull off this trade, they would immediately make themselves winners of the 2021 NBA offseason. Brogdon is a terrific talent that can play either guard position and he could bring so much to the table for the Lakers. 

He had his best season of his young career during the 2020-21 season, averaging 21.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists while shooting 48.8% from three-point range. The other thing that many people tend to forget about Malcolm Brogdon is that he won the 2016-17 Rookie of the Year after being drafted 36th overall in 2016. 

Brogdon can shoot, he can facilitate and he is a terrific one-on-one defender, which is why he could be a sneaky, under-the-radar for LeBron James and co. this offseason. Do the Lakers have the assets to pull off this monumental trade though?

Los Angeles is going to be looking to trade Kyle Kuzma this offseason, per NBA Analysis Network’s own Evan Massey, and as a result, he will become a key part of any trade package the Lakers are looking at putting together this offseason. He’s a name that will be a mainstay in NBA trade rumors.

In this trade with the Pacers, not only will the Lakers be giving up Kyle Kuzma, but they will also be moving on from Montrezl Harrell after one season.

READ MORE: NBA Rumors: 3 trade packages the Lakers could offer for Kemba Walker

Things just did not work out with Harrell in the purple and gold this season, but the Pacers could actually really want to add him to their list of assets and we will touch on the reason why shortly. 

Adding Kuzma gives the Pacers a potential replacement for Doug McDermott, should he leave in free agency, and getting another first-round pick this year gives the Pacers the ability to add more young talents to their roster. 

There is something of value on both ends of this trade, which is why Malcolm Brogdon is definitely a name to keep an eye on this offseason in regards to a potential trade. With that said, let’s look at this NBA trade scenario from each team’s stand point and see if this is a trade that makes sense for both the Lakers and Pacers.