The Toronto Raptors are reportedly expected to pick up Bruce Brown’s $23 million team option for next season and then trade him right after, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star reported.
The Raptors were shopping Brown at the deadline, but didn’t get a deal done. Now, they have an entire offseason to work something out.
With a Brown trade in mind, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report propsed a trade idea for the Denver Nuggets:
“The trade: Michael Porter Jr. to the Toronto Raptors for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, pick No. 31 and 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected, via IND)
The Nuggets shouldn’t overreact to losing a seven-game series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Repeating as NBA champions is hard. No one has done since it Kevin Durant was a member of the Golden State Warriors, and the last team before that was the Miami Heat with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Denver also shouldn’t just dismiss the playoff failure as nothing, though. The Nuggets’ lack of depth was exposed in that series. Porter, who managed only 25 total points over the final four outings, was unsettlingly quiet for a $30 million-plus player who largely makes his money on the offensive end.
Denver has to at least consider moving a player or two around, or this roster will become too pricey to keep. If Porter becomes the odd man out, this could the kind of package the Nuggets pursue: two plug-and-play rotation players for next year’s playoff run in Brown (a member of Denver’s title team) and Olynyk, plus an early second-round pick and future first-rounder to either grow the young core or sweeten a trade offer down the line.”
This trade makes a lot of sense for the Nuggets. It reunites them with Brown, gives them solid veteran bench pieces and draft capital. However, the same can’t be said for the Raptors. The Raptors giving up their 2026 first-round pick via the Indiana Pacers would be foolish. Porter Jr. would instantly help the Raptors shooting woes, but he is not worth this price tag. Also, his contract isn’t ideal to take on at all.
Porter Jr. has three years and $115 million remaining on his contract, which is an average of $38.33 million per season. Porter Jr. wouldn’t be a clear cut second option on the team. He would arguably be a third or fourth. That’s a lot of money to pay a player who isn’t a star and who is a defensive liability. His current contract is an overpay and the rebuilding Raptors should stay away.
Dan Tolzman talks about new two-night NBA Draft
For the first time ever the NBA Draft will be a two-night event. The first round of the draft is set for June 26 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN. The second round of the draft will take place on June 27 starting at 4 p.m. ET.
The Toronto Raptors will have two picks in this year’s draft. They will have No. 19 via the Indiana Pacers and No. 31 via the Detroit Pistons. This means Toronto will make the first pick of the second-round.
Raptors Assistant General Manager Dan Tolzman talked about the two-night draft and what to expect.
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