With the exception of power forward Pascal Siakam, who is currently with the Indiana Pacers, our Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to almost every major NBA player rumored to be moving this season. The big returning current piece that Siakam’s former team acquired in that specific deal, however, has reportedly been targeted by LA team president Rob Pelinka. That would be combo guard Bruce Brown of the Toronto Raptors, who is currently two teams away from the Denver Nuggets of 2022–23, the team that the veritable Swiss army knife won his first league title with. The 6’4″ role player is being pursued by another team as the NBA trade deadline, which is fast approaching at 12 p.m. PT tomorrow, draws near.
The 26-26 Utah Jazz, another Western Conference play-in team, surprisingly appears interested in adding Brown as a very win-now piece. According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, in exchange for Brown’s $22 million salary (Toronto has a $23 million team option on Brown for 2024–25), Danny Ainge and company seem to be offering a package that includes floor-spacing veteran big man Kelly Olynyk and second-year former lottery pick swingman Ochai Agbaji. In a hypothetical trade, Agbaji would be the young asset (a recent top draft pick still on a rookie scale contract) and Fischer notes that the Jazz are hoping to recoup a first round pick, which seems strange for a Toronto team that is typically looking to sell.Thanks to the impressive play of All-Star caliber forward Lauri Markkanen, gifted guards Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson, and intriguing young pieces like Agbaji, Walker Kessler, and, somehow, Kris Dunn, Utah is currently the tenth seed in the West, just one spot behind the 27–25 Lakers. Moving for Brown would suggest that the team wants to strengthen its perimeter defense going forward and maybe launch an unexpected postseason run.
