The ongoing trade saga surrounding Toronto Raptors guard Bruce Brown continued on through the 2024 NBA Draft with no resolution in sight. Brown, the best player Toronto acquired in the Pascal Siakam trade, has been dealing with rumors that Masai Ujiri will try to flip him to a contender for a draft pick from the moment the ink dried on the trade paperwork.
While Raptors fans were satisfied with the selection of Baylor guard Ja'Kobe Walter with the No. 19 overall pick in the Draft, some were a bit perturbed that Brown was still in town. There is a minimal chance Brown ends up as a part of the long-term furniture in Toronto.
Some fans on social media prematurely declared this day as the end of the Brown era, with some halcyon trade scenarios featuring a prized pick heading back to Toronto. However, Brown is still a Raptor, and he let his displeasure with those fans be heard.
Brown replied to a fan who celebrated the preemptive Brown trade that never cane, replying with "Damn y'all really don't want me huh?" Brown may be a Raptor for the time being, but it doesn't seem like all corners of the fanbase are thrilled about it,
Damn y’all really don’t want me huh?
— Bruce Brown (@BruceBrown11) June 27, 2024
Bruce Brown goes after Toronto Raptors fans asking for trade
Brown was dealing with a knee injury that made it tough for him to really get going in Toronto. Fans were still unmerciful, as his 9.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game led some to believe his past success was the benefit of paying alongside offensive juggernauts like Nikola Jokic and Tyrese Haliburton in Denver and Indiana.
Brown is a confusing player to analyze. While the Raptors have clearly been trying to trade him away as they surround franchise player Scottie Barnes with younger, cheaper talent, Brown's style of play fits Ujiri's philosophy perfectly. Ujiri even said he had been trying to acquire Brown for years.
If Brown is healthy in 2024, there's a path to him being a solid contributor to this team. With Walter more of an off-ball guard, Brown could pick up some valuable ball-handling and creation opportunities with the second unit.
Toronto may yet find a trade for Brown that whets their whistle, but the divided fanbase still arguing over his merit as a player has to be disheartening for a player just a few months removed from playing a vital role on an NBA champion Nuggets team.