Los Angeles Lakers: Could Corey Brewer net some return near the trade deadline?
On a cheap contract for the remainder of the season, is Corey Brewer an asset the Los Angeles Lakers can flip for some return?
Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers traded Lou Williams to the Houston Rockets for a first round pick (which was traded for the rights to Josh Hart and Thomas Bryant) and Corey Brewer. This was Magic Johnson‘s first move as president of basketball operations for the Lakers, and netted a positive return.
Magic was able to turn Williams’ expiring contract into a cheap contract with Brewer and a valuable pick. That trade happened in late February, and Magic and co. should look into doing the same with Brewer’s expiring contract if the Lakers fall out of playoff contention.
These one-year rentals on players are growing in trade value by the year, and players that can help teams heading toward the playoffs are worth late first or second round picks. Williams’ ability to score in bunches yielded a late first, and Brewer may be the next veteran the Lakers try to offload for a draft pick.
Brewer is in his 11th season in the NBA and is past his prime at 31 years of age, but still offers plenty of potential defensively that could intrigue a contending team. He can guard positions 1-4 and is capable of defending the opposing team’s best scorer for short spurts when needed.
Despite having limitations offensively, Brewer isn’t a complete liability on that side of the floor. His shooting numbers are down this season, but he doesn’t hesitate shooting from deep, and is a decent finisher attacking closeouts. Improving upon his 23.8 3-point percentage this season doesn’t seem too likely given he is a career 28.2 percent shooter from deep.
The 3-and-D skill-set is coveted around the league, and while Brewer is more defense with no shooting, he could play his way onto a playoff team. When his shot is on like it was Dec. 20 against the Rockets, who boast the NBA’s best record, he can make a large impact.
Brewer had his best game of the season, scoring 21 points with a 77.9 shooting percentage, five rebounds and three steals in 25 minutes of action. With both teams missing their starting centers, each coach opted for small-ball, giving Brewer the chance to play more minutes.
Outside of this game, Brewer is an above-average defender with playoff experience that could be worth absorbing his remaining salary and renting his salary for a late pick. Draft pools are as deep as ever, making second-round picks more and more relevant to organizations.
The other side of this equation is the Los Angeles Lakers are hoping to free up cap space for the 2018 summer, and would probably need a cheap one- or two-year contract in return to part with Brewer after falling out of playoff contention. Not to mention they aren’t the deepest team on the wing.
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Considering options at their current state, holding onto Brewer throughout the season wouldn’t be too bad considering he’s off the books after this year. But don’t be surprised if the Lakers attach him to a trade package near the deadline if the right deal comes along.