Corey Brewer was looking forward to another postseason run with the Houston Rockets earlier this year. But when the NBA trade deadline came in February, the former Gator standout found himself headed for the west coast instead.
Brewer was unexpectedly dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers for bench scorer Lou Williams and spent the remainder of the 2016-17 season on a storied franchise that has hit hard times. The Lakers failed to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
“I was surprised, but you know, it’s a business, it’s the NBA,” Brewer said. “I’ve been traded a few times, so it wasn’t anything new. Adjustment was a little different because I went from, we were the second or third seed in Houston to being on the second to last team in the NBA.”
Back in Gainesville this week for his 8th annual Back2Back Youth Basketball camp, Brewer said he’s excited about the direction of the Lakers under former franchise icon and new team president Magic Johnson.
“We’ve got Lonzo Ball, some good young talent coming in so we should have a better year,” Brewer said. “The future is going to be bright. Magic is great, he’s doing a good job and Rob Pelinka, who has come in and took over as the GM, they’re both doing a great job and they are getting the pieces they want.”
