From the second the Toronto Raptors acquired veteran role player Bruce Brown from the Indiana Pacers in the Pascal Siakam deal, fans and pundits alike have been trying to figure out what the best trade destination is for him. The New York Knicks were mentioned almost immediately.
Between their stockpile of tradeable players and picks, Tom Thibodeau's penchant for defense-first players, and Brown openly discussing what a great fit he would be in New York just days after arriving in Toronto, there has been a great deal of noise connecting these two Atlantic Division rivals.
The Raptors seem to be seeking a first-round pick and quality young player in exchange for Brown, though no one has taken them up on such an offer yet. The youngster who seems most likely to move to Toronto in a Brown deal is guard Quentin Grimes. Such a move seems less likely by the day.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Knicks are unwilling to trade Grimes for a player they don't view as a major rotation upgrade. Toronto might be outbid by the Utah Jazz, as the Knicks seem interested in a deal that flips Grimes over to Salt Lake City to acquire Jordan Clarkson.
Another trade notebook for @YahooSports, three days before the deadline, features some extended notes on the Rockets, the aggressive Bucks, clarifying some details with the Magic and Clippers, and a whole lot more: https://t.co/O34osCPR3E
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) February 5, 2024
Toronto Raptors may not get Quentin Grimes in Bruce Brown trade
The 23-year-old Grimes has taken a big step back this season. His field goal percentage is below 40% for the first time in three campaigns, his 3-point percentage has dropped from 38% to 36%, and he has fallen out of the starting lineup. Acquiring Grimes is a bit of a rehabilitation project at the moment.
Toronto may have some hope that he can turn things around after watching RJ Barrett take steps forward after joining Toronto while Immanuel Quickley starts to cut it loose more freely on the offensive end. Grimes as one of the team's first players off the bench might not be a horrible idea.
It seems unlikely the Raptors will keep both Brown and Gary Trent Jr. past the trade deadline, though GTJ's impending free agency might make Brown the more desirable trade target. If Bruce is going to be on the move, Toronto will need to act fast if they don't want Grimes slipping away.