Raptors exercise Bruce Brown's 2024-25 team option

There had been some speculation that Toronto would pick up that option on Brown as part of a trade agreement, and Wojnarowski refers to the swingman as a “valuable trade asset.” However, it doesn’t sound like any deal is in place at this point to send Brown to a new team.

After playing a crucial role off the bench for the Nuggets during their 2022-23 championship season, Brown drew significant interest as a free agent last summer and eventually signed a two-year, $45M contract with the Pacers. Indiana sent him to Toronto in January as part of a trade package for Pascal Siakam.

In 67 total appearances (44 starts) for the Pacers and Raptors, Brown averaged 10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 27.9 minutes per game, posting a shooting line of .478/.323/.824. The 6’4″ wing is considered a solid, versatile perimeter defender who is a good fit next to more ball-dominant players on offense.

Exercising Brown’s $23M option and taking on salary in their now-official trade with the Kings puts the Raptors on track to operate as an over-the-cap team this offseason. They’ll have a decision to make on another wing Gary Trent Jr., who will be an unrestricted free agent. Re-signing Trent would likely prevent Toronto from using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception while remaining out of tax territory, as Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca notes.

Whether Brown plays out the season in Toronto or is dealt to a new team, he’ll return to unrestricted free agency in 2025, since he won’t become extension-eligible before his current deal expires.