Toronto Raptors guard/forward Bruce Brown found himself amidst trade rumors leading up to the deadline but ultimately remained with the team as the deadline passed without any moves involving him.
Expressing his relief and contentment about staying put, Brown shared his sentiments with Michael Grange of Sportsnet, stating, “It feels great. It feels great. Obviously it’s nice to have some stability. I didn’t know what was going on. So it was great. I’m glad to be here for the rest of the season and then try and work things out…I was watching golf all day, the Waste Management [Open] and I knew around, like, 1:00 I wasn’t going to be traded, so that was pretty cool.”
The desire for stability is understandable, considering Brown’s journey in the league thus far. With six years of experience under his belt, he has already played for five different teams, including the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and now the Toronto Raptors.
Notably, he was part of the trade that sent him from Indiana to Toronto on January 17 as part of the deal involving Pascal Siakam.
Had Brown been traded in February, it would have marked his fifth team in less than two calendar years.
His recent trajectory showcases this whirlwind: concluding the 2021-22 season with the Nets, then transitioning to the Denver Nuggets via free agency, followed by a successful stint with the Indiana Pacers in 2022-23 before landing in Toronto through a trade.
Looking ahead, the Raptors hold a team option on Brown for $23 million in the 2024-25 season. However, if they decline it, Brown will once again enter free agency, potentially seeking his sixth team in just seven years.
Despite this uncertainty, Brown’s versatility and proven track record in the league are likely to attract significant interest from various teams.
