Author: Monojit Mandal
The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly planning a meeting with point guard Bruce Brown as soon as the NBA free agency period begins on Friday at 6 p.m. ET. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Brown is likely to have several suitors, although he is also considering a return to the Denver Nuggets.
Brown turned down a $6.8 million player option for the 2023-24 season after demonstrating his skills with the title-winning Nuggets. He was a valuable contributor off the bench, averaging 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. His diverse style of play complemented Denver’s selfless team attitude very well.
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Due to salary budget restrictions, the Nuggets can only give Brown a contract starting at US$7.8 million for next season. On the open market, however, it will certainly attract offers higher than the mid-level exemption of $12.4 million. Even so, his excellent adaptation to Denver could lead him to consider a salary cut for the time being.
Brown could, in theory, sign a one-year contract with the Nuggets that contains a player option for the 2024-25 season. This would allow him to opt out and re-sign with Denver the following summer, utilizing his anticipated rights to pass the time.
During an interview with beIN Sports, Jamal Murray hinted that a deal was already in the works, congratulating Brown. “We always say that when we win, everyone is going to eat, everyone is going to be looked after,” said Murray. This is starting to become clear. Congratulations to Bruce and his extension”.
The Lakers, Dallas and Indiana are interested in the forward’s services. However, it is worth noting that Brown’s willingness to talk to other clubs implies that he is still thinking about leaving. However, unless a team makes an offer considerably higher than the average value, he seems to be heading back to Denver.
Brown was an integral part of the Nuggets’ run to the NBA Finals in 2022-23. During the playoffs, he averaged 10.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. He also showed off his defensive skills, effectively neutralizing some of the best players in the league.
Brown is an important asset for any club due to his flexibility, defensive talent and youth. His game still has potential for improvement, which shows that he could improve his performance in the future.