The Raptors want a minimum of a first-round pick and a “quality player” in exchange for Bruce Brown, according to Marc Stein at Substack.
Toronto just acquired Brown from Indiana in the Pascal Siakam blockbuster, with the Knicks and Lakers among the teams said to be interested in the swingman’s services. Brown cashed in during free agency last summer, signing a two-year, $45MM deal with the Pacers after spending last season as the sixth man of the Nuggets, helping Denver win its first NBA Championship.
However, Brown’s contract could also expire in the offseason, as it features a $23MM team option. He cannot be aggregated with other salaries, but Toronto is free to flip him, and team president Masai Ujiri has said more deals could “definitely” occur before the February 8 deadline.
As Stein writes, due to Brown’s contract and two-way ability, a variety of teams will likely register interest in dealing for the 27-year-old. That has the Raptors optimistic about their chances of landing a valuable return.
For his part, Brown said he’s not requesting a trade and would be open to staying a Raptor.
Here are a few more trades rumors from around the NBA:
- The Trail Blazers have been repeatedly described by rivals as “resistant” to the idea of moving Jerami Grant, according to Stein, who is at least the fourth different reporter to say something along those lines. Grant, who re-signed with Portland on a five-year, $160MM deal in the offseason, was viewed as a potential trade candidate after Damian Lillard requested a trade and was eventually moved, but the Blazers front office reportedly likes having a productive veteran such as Grant to help guide a young roster.
- Veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon, on the other hand, is viewed as “very likely” to be traded by the Trail Blazers, Stein reports. Stein has heard the Knicks are interested in Brogdon, who was acquired from Boston in the Jrue Holiday deal, though Ian Begley of SNY.tv recently suggested that the Knicks and Blazers haven’t engaged in talks about the veteran guard. Brogdon, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, is in the first season of a two-year, $45MM extension that pays him $22.5MM annually.
- Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times confirms recent reporting that the Lakers are interested in Wizards point guard Tyus Jones. Woike also adds Jones’ teammate, center Daniel Gafford, to the list of potential Lakers targets. The Wizards are reportedly looking for first-round picks for both players.
A first for Bruce Brown…hahahahhaha and a quality player…ok
They are only getting a 1st from a contending team if they have any. Most of those teams have traded their picks away. Maybe Knicks move Fournier and their worst 1st.
Knicks do t get Murray. I think they do that for Brown. He can be moved next yr.
When did Ainge take over in TOR-? Their minimum for Brown is only one FRP shy of of the asking for Murray.
Bruce for Okongwu, Patty Mills and a first/ Bruce for Bertans, Pokusevski or Jaylin Williams and a 2024 first, Bruce for Olynyx, Agbaji and a first.
Dude…This is the second time with the Olynyx.
Olynyk.
Come. On.
This is the second time my comment has ruined your day. Man up icon you are way too emotional.
no
If someone had a quality player to swap for Brown they wouldn’t need Brown.
I thought your mind would be on sixers making the finals with Embiid.
Bruce for Lyles, Vezenkov, Davion and a first.
People should realize by now that “asking price” is a starting point for trade talks. Rarely if ever is it an absolute. They’d likely take less at the deadline if they get an offer that suits them.
Also, “quality player” isn’t an exact science. That could be anywhere from “just below Bruce’s value” to “somebody interesting who could perform in an expanded role”.
Stop with your nuance and reasonable take.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight, I forgot this is HoopsHotTakes xD
An asking price SHOULD act as a starting point, and even moreso establish a framework for responses. This type of asking price doesn’t do either, or otherwise facilitate best proposals. It’s a waste of time, although there is still two and half weeks left before the deadline so that may be TOR’s purpose. Maybe they don’t want best proposals yet.
You’ve made it pretty clear that you don’t like Bruce Brown as much as the industry consensus does, and that’s fine. I get it, honestly; his shooting is inconsistent and he’s not a huge offensive threat. But acting like Brown isn’t worth a big return is a weird hill to die on. He’s a good player who can handle three positions and plays good defense, can run plays for others and create his own shot, and is a quality sixth man in terms of overall production. Yes, his contract is oversized, but it’s also short and has a team option, which creates its own sort of value in the right context. And if the team decides to exercise his option, they could easily trade him next season instead. And Brown has said multiple times he doesn’t feel any urge to leave Toronto. If a non-destination franchise has that kind of luck, of course he’ll be more valuable to them.
Setting his price to what teams are likely to pay for doesn’t facilitate good offers, either. It actually does it less than a high-ball price does. Teams are constantly trying to nickle-and-dime each other to begin with. Why would they lower their price at all? It’s not like they’re pulling a Daryl Morey and asking for the moon for Tobias Harris.
I actually I believe I like him more. You’re trading for his contract. We’ll see if it yields within that framework or it’s reset in a week or so.
NY Evan Fournier and league leader in points Ryan A with a 1st for Brown. 76s Marcus Morris and Reed with a 1st for Brown. Kings Huerter and Davion Mitchell with a 2nd for Brown. Raptors trade Dennis S for Marcus Morris and pick then waive Young, Porter jr, Morris, Nwora and Temple then trade Brown to Denver for Zeke Nanji,, Strawther, Cancer, Holiday, Pickett, Tyson and two firsts and 2nds. Any of those?