The Toronto Raptors have some decisions to make this summer.
The first is regarding Bruce Brown. Toronto has until June 29 to exercise an option on the $23 million he’s owed next season.
Per the Toronto Star’s Doug Smith a handful of league sources believe that the Raptors are likely to pick up the option, then turn around and deal Brown shortly after.
Smith says the thinking is that the Raptors will exercise the contract option on Brown with a deal already in place, which will give the Raptors some financial leverage going into free agency talks with Gary Trent Jr.
Smith believes that Trent Jr. is more likely to stay on the Raptors roster than Brown going into next season:
“The overwhelming feeling is that the Raptors won’t start the season with both Brown and Trent on the roster, and that Trent’s relative youth (25, two years younger than Brown) and shooting ability make him a more attractive alternative.”
Trent Jr. is an unrestricted free agent this summer who had an up and down 2023-24 season with the Raptors. He started the year coming off the bench and then got a starter’s role after the Raptors made two big trades sending O.G. Anunoby to the New York Knicks and Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers.
Towards the end of the season Trent Jr. did come alive. He showed an improved defensive effort and was able to put forth some nice scoring outings. Overall, Trent Jr.’s numbers were down this season as he averaged 13.7 points per game on 42.6 percent shooting from the field and 39.3 percent shooting from three.
Still Trent Jr. ranked among one of the best spot up three-point shooters. He ranked 11th in the league among players with at least 300 spot-up possessions and generated 1.14 points per possession, per Synergy Sports.
Trent Jr.’s shooting alone is valuable and could be a big reason why he’s back with the Raptors next season.
Raptors expected to trade Bruce Brown around NBA Draft
Bruce Brown’s time with the Raptors might be coming to an end soon.
The Raptors are expected to trade Brown around the 2024 NBA Draft, per Smith. Brown was traded to Toronto on Jan. 17 in the Pascal Siakam trade.
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