Just when it seemed like the Toronto Raptors were ready to pull the trigger on trades for veterans Bruce Brown and Chris Boucher, Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster decided to pull back. Toronto seems willing to let these veterans play out the remainder of their seasons north of the border.
After trading away Dennis Schroder and Thad Young, Brown will play an important role off the bench. Brown's versatility will help Toronto navigate a second unit consisting primarily of rookie guard Gradey Dick and two new Utah Jazz trade acquisitions in Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji.
The Raptors were bombarded with offers for Brown, as a recent champion who can play multiple positions makes him seem like a role player who would be better off on a team fighting for the postseason. However, Webster seemed generally unimpressed with what he was being offered.
In an appearance on "The Raptors Show," Webster said that any team who wanted brown would have had to "blow us away" to get a deal done. Toronto seems content to revisit Brown in the offseason, where they will have an idea of how well he fits in alongside Scottie Barnes and the new core.
"Another team was - in essence - going to have to blow us away with an offer to get Bruce [Brown Jr.]"@Raptors GM Bobby Webster on the decision to keep Brown at the deadline with @william_lou & @BlakeMurphyODC on @TheRaptorsShow. #WeTheNorth
— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) February 9, 2024
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Bobby Webster explains Toronto Raptors not trading Bruce Brown
Brown is averaging 9.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game this season, using his unusual style of ball to give Toronto's bench a unique quality on the offensive side of the floor. Brown has been a player Masai Ujiri has been openly trying to acquire for multiple years.
Brown has a $23 million club option, and Toronto will assuredly pick it up. Brown will have a chance to show he can stick long-term, as giving Brown a big chunk of minutes might make more sense than trying to spend free agent dollars on a player trying to go a convincing facsimile.
Toronto will likely get a better trade package if they want to move off Brown next season. He is just one year removed from essentially serving as the Sixth Man on a championship-winning Denver Nuggets team, and 2025 picks might be willing to be sent away by teams eyeing one more
Once the Los Angeles Lakers balked at Brown's asking price and the New York Knicks' Bojan Bogdanovic trade sent Quentin Grimes to the Detroit Pistons, Toronto didn't find a team willing to give up 2025 picks for Brown. Perhaps they will get blown away closer to the offseason when teams get desperate once again.