It will be interesting to see how the Toronto Raptors handle Bruce Brown's unique situation. He was traded from the Pacers to the Raptors for Pascal Siakam, and it's easy to see him as a player who could be moved again before the Feb. 8 deadline.
Much like Alex Caruso, Brown is the type of player who has far more value as a candidate than on a rebuilding team. He's a great defender at 6-foot-4 with real length that allows him to fly all over the court and provide toughness. Offensively, he is a sharp ball mover who always keeps the offense flowing by handling the court well and making good reads to find the rhythm of his teammates.
He thus played a key role for the NBA champion Denver Nuggets last season, ranking sixth on the team in playoff minutes and third on the team in regular season minutes. As a result, he was signed to a huge two-year, $45 million contract with the Pacers last summer, with his second year a team option.
This contract gives his current team, the Raptors, a great deal of flexibility. They can keep him playing next to Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes, hoping he will facilitate their development and help the Raptors' play-in push, and will keep him active until the summer. He can wait until he considers transferring. Alternatively, Toronto could cash in now by taking advantage of the slew of teams likely to be interested in acquiring Brown as they prepare for the playoff race.
Brown's contract will have significant value on draft night. After signing Siakam, the Raptors have multiple first-round picks, so he could become a major player. Even if the Raptors decline his team option, they still have the flexibility to trade him to a team that needs him, as they will have more cap space anyway, but otherwise acquire him. They may not have the mechanism to do so.
Transaction amount: 1st round pick.
Best fit: Thunder, Kings, 76ers, Knicks, Heat, Lakers, Mavericks, Warriors
Read the rest of the NBA Trade Deadline Big Board here.
