Insider Shares Latest on Raptors' Bruce Brown Sweepstakes
Bruce Brown Jr. might not want to get too settled in Toronto.
Trade rumors have already begun circulating about another deal for the Toronto Raptors involving the recently acquired 27-year-old wing. There’s reportedly been “no shortage of teams reaching out to Toronto” to inquire about Brown’s availability, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on NBA Countdown.
"From the time the Lakers lost to Denver, got eliminated in the Conference Finals last year, there's been one player they've really been focused on trying to acquire; Bruce Brown Jr.” Wojnarowski said. “In free agency, if Indiana had not stepped up with a two-year, $45 million deal, there's a very good chance Bruce Brown would have gone to the Lakers for their mid-level exception.”
The Lakers and New York Knicks are both expected to be among the teams interested in Brown along with other playoff contenders looking to bolster their roster ahead of the post-season.
For the Lakers, a trade for Brown is a little complicated. Los Angeles would have to give Toronto either Rui Hachimura, D'Angelo Russell, or Gabe Vincent in order to make the salaries match. All those players are signed to multi-year deals that could impede Toronto’s flexibility moving forward.
Brown is set to earn $22 million this year with a team option for $23 million next year. His salary cannot be aggregated with other contracts in a trade this year, making trades a little more restrictive for Toronto.
The 6-foot-4 Brown is averaging 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and three assists per game this year while shooting 48.1% from the floor.
