Los Angeles Lakers Reportedly Targeting $86 Million Defensive Specialist Dillon Brooks In Bold Trade Move To Bolster Championship Contention

The Los Angeles Lakers may have wrapped up much of their offseason business, but the rumor mill continues to churn in Los Angeles. For a franchise that has long been known for its blockbuster moves and willingness to swing for the fences when it comes to championship aspirations, it appears that Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office might not be finished tinkering with their roster. According to SB Nation’s Jacob Rude, one intriguing trade scenario that has surfaced involves the acquisition of Dillon Brooks — the $86 million defensive-minded guard-forward currently suiting up for the Houston Rockets — in a move that could potentially alter the Lakers’ rotation and their postseason outlook.

The proposed deal, in Rude’s hypothetical framework, would see the Lakers send guard Gabe Vincent and forward Maxi Kleber (acquired via an assumed prior transaction) to the Phoenix Suns, while the Suns would ship Brooks to Los Angeles. On paper, it is a multi-team maneuver that addresses needs for all involved, but from a Lakers perspective, it could be a gamble that speaks volumes about their win-now mindset.

Dillon Brooks has long been one of the NBA’s most polarizing figures. Known for his defensive tenacity, competitive fire, and sometimes fiery personality, Brooks built a reputation during his Memphis Grizzlies tenure as a player who relishes the role of guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter scorer. He is not afraid to get under the skin of opponents, a trait that has both benefited and occasionally hurt his teams. After signing a four-year, $86 million deal with Houston in 2023, Brooks brought his signature defense and improved three-point shooting to the Rockets, helping instill a culture of toughness. However, with Houston now deep in a youth movement and their roster flush with wings, some around the league have speculated that Brooks could be attainable under the right circumstances.

For the Lakers, the appeal is obvious. The 2024–25 roster is built around the two-headed superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, with a mix of shooting, playmaking, and defensive depth surrounding them. While players like Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Jarred Vanderbilt each bring their own value, the team has lacked a consistently elite perimeter stopper who can handle assignments ranging from Luka Dončić to Devin Booker to Jayson Tatum in a seven-game playoff series. Brooks, for all his quirks, fits that description. He is a physical, versatile defender with a strong frame and the ability to play both the shooting guard and small forward positions.

Brooks’ addition would also help lighten the defensive load on LeBron, who at 40 years old cannot be expected to chase elite scorers for 40 minutes a night in a playoff setting. It would allow the Lakers to strategically deploy James on offense and in help-defense situations, while Brooks handles the primary wing assignments. Moreover, Brooks’ improved shooting — particularly from the corners — has made him a more viable offensive piece. In Houston, he hovered around 38 percent from three-point range last season, a mark that, if replicated in Los Angeles, could space the floor for Davis’ post work and LeBron’s drives.

Of course, acquiring Brooks is not without risk. His competitive edge, while valuable, has occasionally crossed the line into self-inflicted issues, from technical fouls to ill-timed trash talk that fuels opponents. The Lakers, a franchise that values professionalism and media discipline, would need to ensure Brooks channels that energy productively. In addition, his contract — averaging over $21 million annually — would represent a significant financial commitment for a team already deep into the luxury tax. The Lakers would be betting that Brooks’ defensive impact and playoff value outweigh potential chemistry concerns or offensive inconsistency.

The hypothetical trade also raises questions about the pieces heading out. Gabe Vincent, while struggling with injuries and inconsistent shooting since joining Los Angeles, was still viewed as a steady, playoff-tested guard after his run with the Miami Heat in 2023. Moving on from him could reduce the Lakers’ ball-handling depth, particularly if D’Angelo Russell were to miss time. Maxi Kleber, though not currently a Laker, is a stretch big known for his defensive versatility and ability to guard multiple positions — the kind of player that has complemented Davis in the past. For Phoenix, acquiring both Vincent and Kleber could add shooting, defense, and rotation stability, but from the Lakers’ point of view, it’s a calculated sacrifice in pursuit of more perimeter defense.

Should this deal actually materialize, it could shift the Lakers’ identity in a subtle yet meaningful way. They would go from being a team reliant on LeBron’s two-way brilliance and Davis’ rim protection to one that can truly match up with the elite wing-heavy rosters of the NBA. Imagine a playoff lineup featuring Reaves, Brooks, James, Hachimura, and Davis — a group with size, switchability, and enough offensive versatility to keep defenses honest.

The bigger picture is that the Lakers, in the LeBron-Davis era, cannot afford to play the long game. Each season is a championship-or-bust proposition, and marginal upgrades — even if they come at the cost of depth or future flexibility — are worth pursuing if they improve the odds of winning a title in June. Brooks, for all his controversies, has proven he can handle the intensity of playoff basketball. He brings a level of edge that sometimes seems missing in a Lakers team that can oscillate between brilliance and inconsistency.

Critics may point to Brooks’ offensive limitations, his occasional inefficiency, and the volatility of his shot selection. But in a Lakers system where his role would be clearly defined — defend, hit open shots, and bring energy — those weaknesses could be minimized. With LeBron orchestrating the offense and Davis anchoring the paint, Brooks would not be asked to create off the dribble or shoulder a heavy scoring load. Instead, his contributions would come in the form of deflections, contested shots, and the kind of hustle plays that swing playoff games.

This proposed move is also emblematic of the Lakers’ willingness to keep their championship window open as long as possible. While younger teams across the league are building for sustained runs, Los Angeles is still operating with an urgency dictated by LeBron’s career timeline. Every move is measured by how it impacts their chances in the next 12 months, not in three years. Adding Brooks may not be the kind of superstar move that makes headlines for weeks, but in a Western Conference packed with elite scorers, it could be the subtle difference-maker that tilts a series in their favor.

In the end, the question for the Lakers’ front office will be whether Dillon Brooks’ positives outweigh the potential pitfalls. If the answer is yes, and if the financial math works, then it is entirely plausible that Brooks could be donning purple and gold before the season tips off. While it remains a hypothetical scenario at this point, it underscores a reality that has defined the Lakers for decades — they are never truly done improving, never satisfied with “good enough,” and always willing to make the bold move that they believe puts them a step closer to an NBA championship.

If the trade were to happen, it would instantly become one of the most talked-about moves of the offseason. Love him or hate him, Brooks brings attention, intensity, and a clear identity to any team he joins. For the Lakers, that might just be the missing ingredient in their quest for another banner in the rafters of Crypto.com Arena. And if there’s one thing history has taught us about this franchise, it’s that the Lakers thrive on bold bets — especially when championship gold is on the line.