4 Toronto Raptors who damaged their contract value in 2023-24

No. 1: Bruce Brown

Bruce Brown and his public image have done an about-face in the last calendar year.

Around 11 months ago, Brown was hoisting a championship trophy and taking part in a parade through Denver. He then secured a raise from $6.5 million to $22 million this past season, signing a two-year, $45 million contract with the Indiana Pacers.

Brown had a ho-hum start to the season with the Pacers, then was included as the primary matching salary in the Pascal Siakam trade. Upon landing in Toronto, unfortunately, the wheels fell off for Brown.

Every lineup he was a part of seemed to fall apart, and he had one of the worst plus-minuses on the team, an impressive feat considering the run of two-ways and 10-days rotating into the lineup. He shot just 31.7 percent from 3-point range, saw his assists go down and his turnovers go up, and cast into doubt whether he will see the $23 million team option this summer.

The Raptors now have a difficult decision to make. Brown clearly isn't worth $23 million for next season, at least not based on how he has played in Toronto thus far. Do they decline the option, let Brown walk, and use that cap space elsewhere? Do they pick up the option and hope to work out a trade for Brown?

If Brown had landed in Toronto and played well, rebounding out of position, serving as a secondary playmaker and scoring efficiently inside and outside the arc, the Raptors likely would have no qualms picking up that option. Because his time in Toronto was a major letdown, Brown may be directly cutting himself off from the big payday he had negotiated last summer.