The Toronto Raptors' decision to move Pascal Siakam over to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a package centered around three first-round draft picks and a collection of players highlighted by Bruce Brown. As soon as the trade was finalized, trade rumors surrounding the former NBA champion have swirled.
The versatile Brown did a tremendous job of introducing himself to this fanbase. Despite arriving in Toronto earlier on Thursday morning, Brown put up 15 points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes during a close loss to the Chicago Bulls. Brown achieved this without practicing before the game or knowing any of the plays.
Masai Ujiri's emotional press conference made it seem like Brown is more than just a veteran they acquired to match salary. Ujiri singled him out as a player he identified as a high-end addition to this team, which could be a sign that Toronto will keep him as an integral rotation player.
Ujiri may be intent on keeping Brown, and his play in the Chicago game shows that he could be a very important member of this team once he gets more comfortable. These three teams will likely be banging down Ujiri's door as they try to get Brown, and it remains to be seen if Masai will be open to their overtures.
3 teams who could trade for toronto Raptors guard-forward hybrid Bruce Brown
3. Houston Rockets
The Rockets, per Kelly Iko of The Athletic, had an interest in Brown when he was a free agent in the offseason due to his strong relationship with Ime Udoka. Houston might get another crack at him if they overpay and give Ujiri an offer he can't refuse for the veteran guard.
Houston could end up in the Oklahoma City situation relatively soon. Years of losing and trades and draft pick accumulation have helped them land a young core, but it is impossible for them to develop all of those players at once. Perhaps one of them could be kicked over to Toronto in exchange for Brown?
The Houston Rockets might try to trade for Bruce Brown.
One player who could stand out in Toronto's eye is forward Tari Eason, who faces long odds of securing a starting spot following the signing of Dillon Brooks, the continued improvement of Jabari Smith, and the selection of Cam Whitmore behind him. The James Harden trade has given Houston multiple Brooklyn Nets picks to trade.
Eason doesn't have Brown's perimeter play, which could make it very difficult for Ujiri to part with him. Brown is expensive, but the Raptors might be willing to take on that money if Houston is unable to give them a convincing offer in a trade. Rafael Stone has his work cut out for him.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are perpetually connected to everyone when the trade deadline comes near, but Brown could be a player that makes sense for a defense-first coach like Darvin Ham, who is searching for anyone and everyone who can put the breaks on a tough losing streak.
The Raptors will likely be targeting young players and draft picks in exchange for Brown. Rui Hachimura seems like a perfect player to give up due to his reduced role this year and Toronto needed more power forwards after the Siakam move, but LA might not be keen on moving him.
Will the Los Angeles Lakers try to trade for Bruce Brown?
In a very extreme scenario, Jalen Hood-Schifino could be on the trade block. If LA can scrounge together enough salary filler to make this deal go through, Brown might be on his way. Based on how well he seems to fit in with the roster, Ujiri will need to be knocked off his feet with a potential offer.
Brown's status as a recently traded player means that he can't be aggregated with others in a trade in the near future, which could complicate any future deal. This trade partner is based on LA's fear of being viewed as sitting on their hands while LeBron James ages, as Brown will at least show an effort to improve the rotation.
1. New York Knicks
The Knicks have come up quite regularly as Brown's name made its way across the NBA, as they have a reasonable, ironed-out package to send over. Evan Fournier to match salary, Quentin Grimes to get another young rotation player, and a first-round pick to sweeten the deal.
While Fournier is not valuable, Grimes is a much younger player who is significantly cheaper than a player in Brown owed $23 million via a team option next season. With extra first-round picks to part with, the Knicks might be able to sustain sending a few more over Toronto's way.
Will Bruce Brown be traded to the New York Knicks?
Toronto might feel a bit funny about sending two quality two-way players in OG Anunoby and Brown to a division rival in the Knicks, but if they ultimately have their heart set on a move, the Knicks' ability to make as compelling an offer for his services as any team in the league. From there, the ball is in Ujiri's court.
Keeping Brown this season and the next would mean a serious financial commitment for someone who is not an elite scorer on a team that may not even sniff the postseason. Giving up to a team like the Knicks would be tough to see, as the Raptors may spend a ton of resources trying to get similar value out of a younger player.