The Lakers are strongly interested in signing versatile Nuggets free agent Bruce Brown, multiple sources tell Mike Singer of The Denver Post (Twitter link). Brown, who is in line for a substantial raise after playing an important role in Denver’s first NBA championship, turned down his $6.8MM player option last week.
The Nuggets only hold Non-Bird rights on Brown, which limits them to an offer around $7.8MM — a 20% raise on what he made last season. L.A. may have access to its full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which will be approximately $12.4MM.
Brown was an ideal addition when Denver picked him up as a free agent last summer. He averaged a career-high 11.5 points per game during the regular season and logged the most minutes of any Nuggets bench player in the postseason.
There are more free agency rumors to pass along:
- The Pelicans have reached an agreement with Garrett Temple to extend the deadline for guaranteeing his $5.4MM contract for next season, moving it from Thursday to July 7, according to Andrew Lopez of ESPN (Twitter link). New Orleans is currently $2.8MM below the luxury tax, and pushing back Temple’s guarantee date provides time for other cost-cutting moves, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN. Temple only appeared in 25 games last season, averaging 6.5 minutes per night. The Pelicans still face several decisions by Thursday, Lopez notes, as they have to determine whether to pick up team options for Herbert Jones ($1.8MM), Naji Marshall ($1.9MM) and Willy Hernangomez ($2.6MM), along with whether to make a qualifying offer to Jaxson Hayes.
- Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian (Twitter link) is dismissing an internet rumor that Draymond Green traveled to Portland to meet with Damian Lillard about signing with the Trail Blazers. Fentress’ sources say Green is still considered very likely to re-sign with the Warriors.
- Spurs forward Keita Bates-Diop and Nets forward Yuta Watanabe are free agents who might be interested in joining the Suns on minimum deals, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7FM.
- The Sixers aren’t expected to give Louis King a qualifying offer, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). The 24-year-old forward, who played in just one NBA game last season, will become an unrestricted free agent.
Bruce Brown is the sorta guy that can push a really good team to a championship team. Lakers weren’t a really good team last year and he’s not going to push them over the top.
Lakers need to add another key player and then smart depth signings for cheap. For example they need to go all in on Kyrie. Then make smart vet min signings, guys that can give them 15-20, specialist guys or guys that have played well with Bron in the past.
Dennis Schroder, Coby White, Shake Milton, Terrance Davis, Eric Gordon, TJ Warren, Jae Crowder, Andre Drummond, Tristan Thompson and Boogie Cousins. Those are names which standout to me as possible targets.
Kyrie Davis Crowder Bron AD
White Gordon Warren Vanderbilt Thompson
JHS Christie Lewis Cousins
Davis young legs, gives them minutes. From the little minutes I’ve seen he plays both ends and occasionally gets hot. Crowder good 4th choice starter, versatile at both ends and can play a huge role. White again young legs, like his length and height, smart player and versatile again. Eric Gordon specialist shooter and experience. Warren gets a good sixth man role and could be a major key for them. Tristan played with Bron and Kyrie gives plenty of effort. Boogie extremely skilled but injury concern on a min could be waived if unhealthy or could be key for success. Bring back the twin towers of New Orleans
All in on Kyrie? 1. He’s a nut job. 2. How do you go all in on him with $29m in cap space? Two of your guys didn’t even play last year. And are all those min contract guys, cause they need to be even to get to $29m. You might squeak out a MLE at $12 m, but then you are hard capped. No thanks, I’ll take what we had end of last year less Beasley. And maybe a couple min salary different veterans. Love? I’m not giving up Reaves, Rui, D-Lo, Bamba and Walker to get Irving and a bunch of old guys. That formula didnt work with Westbrook and it’s got less chance now with new CBA. 2020 we had good role players. And a lot depends on health of AD and Bron.
Why not sign King 76s? He averaged 20 points per game for you once
Also, under current direction, the Lakers will not have 12M MLE for Brown. And to get low enough to use that you are renouncing a lot of guys. No Rui, DLo, Schroeder, Bamba. Plus, once you use it you are hard capped at around $162-165M. Or call. I don’t think they are doing that.
Really doubt the Bruce Brown Lakers connection. Among many other bad things for the Lakers if they go down this path is they would be hard capped. Which means no mid-season pick-ups. Also means they need to renounce a bunch of dudes just to get under the tax (otherwise they can only offer $7m, which is actually less than the Nuggets can offer). And finally, the Nuggets can do a wink/nod deal with Brown, promising to give him a long term deal after next year, when they’ll have his early bird rights. That’s $13.6m to start with. So in the long run he’s making back that $4.5m he’s losing in 2023-2024. If someone’s gonna sign Brown away from the champs, it’s gonna be a team with cap room who can offer in the $15m range to start. Houston, Orlando, that kind of situation.
Agree for the most part. I think the new taxpayer MLE is $5M? I wonder where this stuff comes from? I mean I’m no expert on the salary cap, but most of these rumors don’t take it in to consideration at all I’ve seen multiple reports on the Lakers using $12M MLE. But every time you hear Pelinka speak, he’s talking about re-signing the core. To your point, you can’t use the $12M MLE and re-sign the core. And then there’s the hard cap. Makes no sense