With NBA free agency winding down, the Los Angeles Lakers seem to have their 2025-26 core locked in. But if the front office wants to shake things up again, a trade might be the only real path left.
One recent idea has been gaining attention — pairing LeBron James with Dillon Brooks, a player he’s famously clashed with in the past.
On a recent podcast, Lakers insider Jovan Buha addressed the topic of Brooks possibly joining the purple and gold. “I think Phoenix wants to keep him,” Buha said during the July 7 YouTube episode. “I think Phoenix is trying to be competitive because they don’t have their picks. So there’s really no point for them to tank.”
Brooks, now with the Phoenix Suns after being included in the massive trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, is under contract for four more seasons on an $86 million deal. His 2025-26 salary is $21.1 million.
Buha believes it would take more than just salary fillers to land Brooks. “I don’t think you’re just getting him for like Maxi and Gabe,” he said. “I think you probably have to give up Rui. And I don’t know if I’d want to do that, to be honest. I think it’s similar to (Andrew) Wiggins in that he’s probably a better fit than Rui for what they need with his perimeter defense. I’m also partly the wrong guy to ask because I’m not a big Dillon Brooks guy,” Buha admitted.
“… I just don’t think Dillon Brooks or Marcus Smart deserve the leeway that they’ve had at times in Memphis or Houston or wherever. So, I think it’s probably Rui plus something for Brooks, but I don’t think the Lakers would want to do that.”
Brooks on LeBron: ‘I Poke Bears’
Brooks’ rivalry with LeBron reached new heights during his time with the Memphis Grizzlies, especially in their 2023 playoff battles. The now-iconic quote came after Brooks was asked about trash-talking James.
“I don’t care — he’s old,” Brooks told ESPN in April 2023. “You know what I mean? I was waiting for that. I was expecting him to do that Game 4, Game 5. He wanted to say something when I got my fourth foul. He should have been saying that earlier on. But I poke bears. I don’t respect no one until they come and give me 40.”
LeBron on Brooks’ Deal: ‘He Was Worthy of the Contract He Got’
Despite the heated moments, LeBron showed a level of respect for Brooks when asked about his $86 million contract.
“I think every player that is awarded with a contract is awarded for a reason, and they’re worthy of the contract that they get,” James said in November 2023. “So I think in his case, he was worthy of the contract he got. He’s put in the work since he came out of Oregon, and that’s what Houston found value in and he’s here. So no, I think it has nothing to do with that”.
