Bruce Brown is staying with the Toronto Raptors for the time being.
The Raptors are picking up the $23 million option on his contract, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
Brown appeared on his Instagram Live and reacted to the news:
“Happy to be in the 6ix man, people didn’t think I was going to be happy, but I’m happy. I like being in the 6ix.”
Bruce Brown boys ig live “back in the 6ix, excited we gon do big things this year in the east” plus this ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/bwfAtaFSE4
— S⚡️ (@WestSS_101) June 29, 2024
Many fans thought the Raptors weren’t going to pick up Brown’s team option and that his time with Toronto was over.
Brown actually clapped back at a fan who was happy about his potential departure from the team:
Damn y’all really don’t want me huh?
— Bruce Brown (@BruceBrown11) June 27, 2024
Even though Brown is back with the Raptors, the expectation is that Toronto will still use him as a trade chip. Toronto had been trying to trade the 27-year-old since acquiring him in the Pascal Siakam trade in January.
However, the Raptors were unable to find a deal for Brown leading up to the trade deadline.
Had the Raptors declined Brown’s option, Toronto could have created just over $20 million in salary cap this offseason if they let both Brown and Gary Trent Jr. walk in free agency.
Brown signed a two-year $55 million deal with the Pacers last offseason.
Brown is coming off a down year. He had a knee injury in the second half of the season which slowed him down. He averaged just 9.6 points, 2.7 assists and 3.8 rebounds on 48.1 percent shooting from the field and 31.7 percent shooting from three-point range in 34 games with the Toronto.
The Raptors can now focus on trying to trade Brown this offseason, but if no deal materializes, he is set to start next season with Toronto.
Conflicting reports surround Sasha Vezenkov
Sasha Vezenkov might be staying with the Toronto Raptors after all.
There are conflicting reports surrounding the newest Raptors’ acquisition.
First it was reported by Christos Harpidis that Vezenkov has decided to return to Europe by signing a multiyear deal with Olympiacos.
However, Sportsnet’s Michael Grange quickly shut down that report saying the Raptors control Vezenkov’s rights and have no intention of waiving him.
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