Guard/wing Following a year with the Denver Nuggets, Bruce Brown signed with the Indiana Pacers this summer. In 2022, Brown agreed to a two-year contract with Denver that included a player option. The deal only had a total value of roughly $13.2 million.
The 27-year-old far outperformed that bargain. He was a major component of the Nuggets’ championship run and spent the whole season among their top six players. He exercised his player option to terminate his contract as a consequence, becoming an unrestricted free agent. Brown was quickly taken by Indiana on a two-year, $45 million deal with a team option. The arrangement benefits a rising organization and a player who is just beginning his peak. Brown has received a massive wage boost, and he deserves it.
However, Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth acknowledged that Denver would be damaged by his departure in an interview with Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.
Booth referred to Brown’s departure in free agency with the veteran Jeff Green as “a big blow.” Brown played 530 playoff minutes for Denver last year; he significantly impacted the crucial games.
In the postseason, Brown averaged 12.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He also made numerous crucial plays in the NBA Finals. However, money issues made a reunion in Denver all but impossible, so the Pacers bought the two-way swiss army knife with their cap space. Indiana will benefit greatly from the five-year veteran’s talents, which are now unavailable in Denver. Because of this, Booth referred to Brown’s departure as a major setback, and the Pacers were eager to sign him. “One of the best things about Bruce’s game is how diverse he is as a player. Rick Carlisle, the head coach of Indiana, said of Brown, “He’s played different positions, he’s played everything from 1-4 in his years in the league so far.
For the Pacers in the preseason, Brown is now averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 assists per game. They will return to play on Friday.
