The Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers banged their heads together and crafted a trade framework that ended up sending Pascal Siakam over to the Midwest. Bruce Brown is the biggest veteran piece that will make his way over to Toronto as a result of this deal.
Brown, fresh off a season as a key role player for the NBA champion Denver Nuggets, signed a deal worth $22 million this season in addition to a $23 million club option for the 2024-25 season. He wanted to prove he was not a product of Nikola Jokic, and he has done just that.
With one of either Brown emerging as a necessary component to make the money match up, Toronto needed to bring on a veteran in addition to the rest of the windfall. Brown, however, could be on the move again if the Raptors want to keep leaning into the youth movement.
No matter what happens with the rest of the roster, Toronto would need to decide if adding a veteran like Brown to the rotation is a better option than holding him until another contender comes calling and selling him for even more assets down the road.
Developing: The Raptors and Pacers are in active talks on a trade centered on two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam for package that includes three first-round picks, league sources say.
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Could the Toronto Raptors trade for Bruce Brown and keep him in 2024?
Brown is averaging 12.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game this season. Brown has made 35% of his 3-pointers in the last two seasons on slightly increased volume, and he is connecting on at least 47% of his overall shots from the field for the fourth season in a row.
The negatives are visible with Brown. $23 million for a player who will likely be a fifth or sixth scoring option is quite expensive. With Toronto looking for a rebuild, trading Brown for picks and younger players might seem to be a much more appealing idea than watching a veteran eat up this much cap space.
If they keep him, Brown could be an invaluable asset. A quality defender who can effectively match up at four positions, Brown is ideal for Masai Ujiri's preferred style. Effective scoring without dominating the ball and coming with recent championship experience, Brown could help steady Toronto's young core.
Brown is the type of player Toronto would have loved to acquire when they were at their peak, but Ujiri might look for other options if he wants to get the average age of the roster down a peg or two. This might be a no-lose situation, as Brown's value as a rotation player and trade piece are nearly equal.