After helping the Denver Nuggets win their first-ever NBA title, veteran guard Bruce Brown declined his $6.8 million player option for next season.
The move doesn’t come with much surprise given that Brown is expected to garner a lucrative contract after his impressive campaign with the Nuggets.
He served as a key piece of the bench that provided a much-needed offensive spark. In 20 playoff games, he averaged 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.
The Nuggets are hoping that Brown will re-sign in free agency, but there is a real possibility that another team could swoop in to offer him the lucrative contract he desires.
What hurts Denver’s chances of retaining him is that they can only offer him $7.8 million per season due to not having his early Bird rights. The Nuggets will have to prepare for the scenario that he leaves this offseason.
Brown should garner strong interest from several teams hoping to secure his services. The 26-year-old can become the missing piece off the bench for another franchise hoping to take a step toward NBA title contention.
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Meanwhile, the Nuggets have already begun preparing for Brown’s possible departure by acquiring the 29th and 32nd overall picks in this year’s draft in a trade with the Indiana Pacers.
Denver could snag a player of promising young players or package the picks to land a proven talent or move up in the draft. Beyond all that, it’s clear that Brown is headed to a much-deserved payday this summer.