Dillon Brooks has been mentioned in Lakers trade rumors ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline, but while DeMarcus Cousins supports moving Austin Reaves for the Suns wing, both Chandler Parsons and Paul Pierce strongly question the fit.
The Los Angeles Lakers are searching for a reliable 3-and-D player, and one name that has surfaced in trade rumors ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline is Phoenix Suns defensive standout Dillon Brooks.
Four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins believes the Lakers should consider trading Austin Reaves – currently their third offensive option behind LeBron James and Luka Doncic – for Brooks.
"He's a culture changer. He's a proven winner. ... Brooks fits exactly what the Lakers need right now," Cousins said on the Run It Back show. "You're getting a two-way player, compared to a one-sided player. Why wouldn't you do it?"
However, co-host Chandler Parsons was far less convinced, especially given that Reaves is enjoying a career-best season. The Lakers' starting shooting guard is averaging 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game.
Credit AP - Scanpix
Boston Celtics legend and former NBA champion Paul Pierce also pushed back strongly against the idea.
"If the Lakers were to make this move, if I'm the new ownership, I would reevaluate my front office," Pierce said on the No Fouls Given show. "Because this is not a great fit."
Pierce added that swapping Rui Hachimura for Brooks wouldn't make much sense either, pointing out that Hachimura is simply a "bigger player" who fits the roster better.
Brooks, 29, is also putting together the best seasons of his career so far. He is averaging 21.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 34.3 percent from three-point range.
The nine-year NBA veteran is in his first season with the Suns after previous stints with the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets.
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