Lakers increasingly confident they can sign Bruce Brown
The Lakers are increasingly confident they can sign Nuggets free-agent wing Bruce Brown Jr. for the non-taxpayer midlevel exception starting at a projected $12.4 million, multiple league sources not authorized to speak publicly on the matter told The Athletic. There are multiple paths for the Lakers to open up cap flexibility under the luxury tax line (a projected $165 million), but the most realistic is to decline Malik Beasley’s $16.5 million team option and waive Mo Bamba’s $10.3 million non-guaranteed contract. The deadline for Los Angeles’ decisions on Beasley and Bamba’s contracts is Thursday.
Source: The Athletic Staff, The Athletic @ The Athletic
Source: The Athletic Staff, The Athletic @ The Athletic
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Lakers going after Bruce Brown would be a really smart move, just on the basis that they can steal the 6th man and an integral player away from the favorites in the West that they could face again in the playoffs next year. And the Nuggets won’t be able to really replace him. – 3:16 PM
Lakers going after Bruce Brown would be a really smart move, just on the basis that they can steal the 6th man and an integral player away from the favorites in the West that they could face again in the playoffs next year. And the Nuggets won’t be able to really replace him. – 3:16 PM
Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
Who do you think will be the Bruce Brown of this NBA free agency class?
One candidate: Ayo Dosunmu from the Bulls pic.twitter.com/sGaG5sv0st – 3:10 PM
Who do you think will be the Bruce Brown of this NBA free agency class?
One candidate: Ayo Dosunmu from the Bulls pic.twitter.com/sGaG5sv0st – 3:10 PM
John Hollinger @johnhollinger
ICYMI from two weeks ago — even with Bruce Brown likely leaving, why the Nuggets are built to last
theathletic.com/4602425/2023/0… – 2:30 PM
ICYMI from two weeks ago — even with Bruce Brown likely leaving, why the Nuggets are built to last
theathletic.com/4602425/2023/0… – 2:30 PM
Michael Singer @msinger
#Nuggets free agency primer: Bruce Brown’s decision & Denver’s (admittedly limited) options.
Regardless of what happens on Friday, Denver is built to contend for years.
denverpost.com/2023/06/29/nug… – 2:21 PM
#Nuggets free agency primer: Bruce Brown’s decision & Denver’s (admittedly limited) options.
Regardless of what happens on Friday, Denver is built to contend for years.
denverpost.com/2023/06/29/nug… – 2:21 PM
Evan Sidery @esidery
Bruce Brown to the Lakers buzz is growing heading into free agency.
After @msinger reported serious interest, @jovanbuha adds the Lakers are “increasingly confident” in signing Brown (theathletic.com/live-blogs/nba…).
Brown would be a massive addition for Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/IhlH7rNOWL – 1:54 PM
Bruce Brown to the Lakers buzz is growing heading into free agency.
After @msinger reported serious interest, @jovanbuha adds the Lakers are “increasingly confident” in signing Brown (theathletic.com/live-blogs/nba…).
Brown would be a massive addition for Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/IhlH7rNOWL – 1:54 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
The Lakers are increasingly confident they can sign Nuggets free-agent wing Bruce Brown Jr. for the non-taxpayer midlevel exception starting at a projected $12.4 million, multiple league sources told @TheAthleticNBA: theathletic.com/live-blogs/nba… – 1:24 PM
The Lakers are increasingly confident they can sign Nuggets free-agent wing Bruce Brown Jr. for the non-taxpayer midlevel exception starting at a projected $12.4 million, multiple league sources told @TheAthleticNBA: theathletic.com/live-blogs/nba… – 1:24 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Thursday’s @lockedonlakers podcast! Rob Pelinka says again that continuity is the Lakers’ offseason goal. How literally does he mean this? Plus, the Lakers have been linked to Bruce Brown. Is he gettable? @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPods
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can… – 12:12 PM
Thursday’s @lockedonlakers podcast! Rob Pelinka says again that continuity is the Lakers’ offseason goal. How literally does he mean this? Plus, the Lakers have been linked to Bruce Brown. Is he gettable? @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPods
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can… – 12:12 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Marc Stein reported earlier today that he believes Bruce Brown could get higher than the non-taxpayer MLE, meaning that teams like the Lakers would be unlikely to get him unless they were willing to dip into cap space. pic.twitter.com/Qpu2ifTQE4 – 11:53 AM
Marc Stein reported earlier today that he believes Bruce Brown could get higher than the non-taxpayer MLE, meaning that teams like the Lakers would be unlikely to get him unless they were willing to dip into cap space. pic.twitter.com/Qpu2ifTQE4 – 11:53 AM
Erik Slater @erikslater_
Some Free Agency tidbits on former Nets from @TheSteinLine:
-Kyrie Irving and James Harden expected to re-sign with Dallas and Philadelphia
-Lakers have interest in Bruce Brown but may not be able to land him. Expectation is BB could receive offers above the full MLE ($12.4M) – 11:09 AM
Some Free Agency tidbits on former Nets from @TheSteinLine:
-Kyrie Irving and James Harden expected to re-sign with Dallas and Philadelphia
-Lakers have interest in Bruce Brown but may not be able to land him. Expectation is BB could receive offers above the full MLE ($12.4M) – 11:09 AM
Erik Slater @erikslater_
Some Free Agency tidbits on former Nets from @TheSteinLine:
-Kyrie Irving and James Harden expected to re-sign with Dallas and Philadelphia
-Lakers have interest in Bruce Brown but may not be able to land him. Expectation is BB could receive offers above the $12.4 MLE – 11:06 AM
Some Free Agency tidbits on former Nets from @TheSteinLine:
-Kyrie Irving and James Harden expected to re-sign with Dallas and Philadelphia
-Lakers have interest in Bruce Brown but may not be able to land him. Expectation is BB could receive offers above the $12.4 MLE – 11:06 AM
Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Lakers shown significant interest in acquiring Bruce Brown jr sportando.basketball/en/lakers-show… – 9:25 AM
Lakers shown significant interest in acquiring Bruce Brown jr sportando.basketball/en/lakers-show… – 9:25 AM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Lakers reportedly have “significant interest,” will make run at Bruce Brown in free agency
nbcsports.com/nba/news/laker… – 8:11 AM
Lakers reportedly have “significant interest,” will make run at Bruce Brown in free agency
nbcsports.com/nba/news/laker… – 8:11 AM
Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
New Beyond The Arc airs at 6AM ET on @FanDuelTV.
My guest @MichaelVPina helps preview NBA free agency going through the top target for all eight teams with cap space, contenders with big decisions, who the next Bruce Brown could be and more, plus I answer listener questions. pic.twitter.com/m9w0l1qQ3L – 1:32 AM
New Beyond The Arc airs at 6AM ET on @FanDuelTV.
My guest @MichaelVPina helps preview NBA free agency going through the top target for all eight teams with cap space, contenders with big decisions, who the next Bruce Brown could be and more, plus I answer listener questions. pic.twitter.com/m9w0l1qQ3L – 1:32 AM
Yossi Gozlan @YossiGozlan
It feels like every single team with the $12.4M MLE has been linked to Max Strus, Bruce Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, etc. There are so few of these guys, and a cap space team could easily make a bigger offer. Realistically, most MLE teams should start planning around other targets. – 8:50 PM
It feels like every single team with the $12.4M MLE has been linked to Max Strus, Bruce Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, etc. There are so few of these guys, and a cap space team could easily make a bigger offer. Realistically, most MLE teams should start planning around other targets. – 8:50 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Kinda funny how whenever the Lakers play the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, they target their glue guy in the following offseason. In 2020, there were all of those rumors about the Lakers targeting Jerami Grant. Now it’s Bruce Brown. – 6:44 PM
Kinda funny how whenever the Lakers play the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, they target their glue guy in the following offseason. In 2020, there were all of those rumors about the Lakers targeting Jerami Grant. Now it’s Bruce Brown. – 6:44 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Bruce Brown is a dream MLE target. My pipe dream BAE target would be Seth Curry.
I obviously think he makes more, but damn it, just once, it would be nice to see a LeBron Lakers team with a knockdown movement shooter. – 6:40 PM
Bruce Brown is a dream MLE target. My pipe dream BAE target would be Seth Curry.
I obviously think he makes more, but damn it, just once, it would be nice to see a LeBron Lakers team with a knockdown movement shooter. – 6:40 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
The more I look at the numbers on Lakers using the MLE on Bruce Brown, the more it seems like the Lakers can keep Bamba or use the BAE, but not both. If they do keep Mo, they probably have to keep Rui/DLo’s numbers a bit lower. Maybe give Rui a fifth-year at a lower cap figure. – 6:38 PM
The more I look at the numbers on Lakers using the MLE on Bruce Brown, the more it seems like the Lakers can keep Bamba or use the BAE, but not both. If they do keep Mo, they probably have to keep Rui/DLo’s numbers a bit lower. Maybe give Rui a fifth-year at a lower cap figure. – 6:38 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
I do really like the fit of Bruce Brown for the Lakers, but the one minor issue is that it sort of pushes Jarred Vanderbilt out of his role. That’s not a huge concern. Trades exist, and never a bad thing to have multiple high-level perimeter defenders. But would feel for Vando. – 6:26 PM
I do really like the fit of Bruce Brown for the Lakers, but the one minor issue is that it sort of pushes Jarred Vanderbilt out of his role. That’s not a huge concern. Trades exist, and never a bad thing to have multiple high-level perimeter defenders. But would feel for Vando. – 6:26 PM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
The Lakers have “significant interest” in signing Bruce Brown, per @msinger. pic.twitter.com/dKKSfrL0kP – 6:22 PM
The Lakers have “significant interest” in signing Bruce Brown, per @msinger. pic.twitter.com/dKKSfrL0kP – 6:22 PM
Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Live with @HarrisonWind. Got a great show planned.
Bruce Brown “extension?”
@Spinella14 on the Nuggets’ draft
youtube.com/live/ZpeXmByu5… – 4:31 PM
Live with @HarrisonWind. Got a great show planned.
Bruce Brown “extension?” @Spinella14 on the Nuggets’ draftyoutube.com/live/ZpeXmByu5… – 4:31 PM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Big @DNVR_Nuggets show coming up in 15 minutes.
– Congrats to Bruce Brown on his “extension”?
– Nikola Jokic advises Anthony Black
– @Spinella14 on the Nuggets’ draft picks
youtube.com/watch?v=ZpeXmB… – 4:14 PM
Big @DNVR_Nuggets show coming up in 15 minutes.
– Congrats to Bruce Brown on his “extension”?
– Nikola Jokic advises Anthony Black
– @Spinella14 on the Nuggets’ draft picks
youtube.com/watch?v=ZpeXmB… – 4:14 PM
More on this storyline
I don’t get the sense that the Lakers have a great shot at winning the Bruce Brown Sweepstakes for the same reason even teams with the full $12.4 million midlevel exception for non-taxpaying teams appear to have lost out on Max Strus: Some teams out there believe that Brown will command a contract that requires salary-cap space above the midlevel exception if the in-demand guard decides he is indeed prepared to leave the freshly minted champions in Denver. -via marcstein.substack.com / June 29, 2023
Michael Singer: One team with significant interest in signing Bruce Brown away from Denver is the Los Angeles Lakers, multiple sources told @denverpost. The Lakers could offer him the full MLE ($12.3M annually). Nuggets can only offer up to $7.8M this year. -via Twitter @msinger / June 28, 2023