It's not exactly a rumor, more a suggestion. On the "Run It Back" podcast, former Laker DeMarcus Cousins suggested the purple and gold swap Austin Reaves for Dillon Brooks. No doubt, the Suns wing, who is having a fantastic year, has been linked to the Lakers in rumors before, but the suggestion from Cousins got a lot of attention.
Could it happen? Suns owner Mat Ishbia shot it down on Monday, for whatever that's worth. Brooks, he said, isn't going anywhere. Nor does it seem likely the Lakers would make that offer, anyway.
But the whole conversation says a lot about the trade market the Lakers are facing. It's a very competitive one, and they won't enter it with a lot to offer.
Meanwhile, Deandre Ayton, like the rest of the squad, has seen his production drop off a little over the last couple weeks, and noted that as a big, he doesn't get to give himself the ball. JJ Redick has said it's not unusual -- human nature, actually -- to lose a little intensity defensively and on the glass when you don't feel the ball on offense. Especially for a big. So what can the Lakers do about it? How much is on Ayton? And how much does this conversation reflect the vibes shift around the team?
Finally, the Lakers botched a lot of ATOs on Friday, and got their act together on Sunday. But why so many mistakes?
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: The "rumor" of Reaves for Brooks.
SEGMENT 2: Why Ayton needs touches!
SEGMENT 3: Are the Lakers slipping in a lot of fundamental ways?
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