Bruce Brown has earned nothing
If Gradey Dick is the upside play to start at shooting guard and bestow the lion’s share of the minutes, Bruce Brown is the “safe” option that may not be all that safe after all.
On the surface, Brown is an understandable option to plug into the starting lineup. He was a Top-6 player on the Denver Nuggets two seasons ago when they won the championship, playing a key role and showing his ability as a defender, playmaker and cutter. That earned him a lucrative contract that will pay him $23 million this season.
The problem with that plan is twofold. One, Brown was a disaster in Toronto last season. Despite playing 26 minutes per game he averaged just 9.6 points per game to go with 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Defensively he couldn’t stop the flow of opponents breaking down the Raptors’ perimeter defense, and shooting an ice-cold 31.7 percent from deep didn’t help his impact on offense.
The other problem is that even at his best, Brown doesn’t make sense with the starting group. The Raptors have assembled a trio of talented players who all thrive with the ball in their hands; Brown is best deployed as a secondary playmaker. Toronto also has a non-shooter at center and a limited one in Scottie Barnes at the 4; they desperately need shooting from whoever starts at the 2. Brown’s 31.7 percent last season, or even his career 33.7 percent, are not going to cut it.
Brown’s role needs to be reduced in favor of younger players, and he should already have been moved to another team that can better use his services. Nothing he has done since arriving in Toronto has earned him playing time.