Luka Doncic's Mavs Want to Sign Nuggets' Bruce Brown in NBA Free Agency
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks entered the offseason needing some creative maneuvering to improve a roster that went 38-44 with no shortage of needs around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The best mechanism at their disposal was the 10th pick entering the NBA Draft.
The Mavs managed to trade the 10th pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a trade down to the 12th spot, enabling them to move Davis Bertans' $17.0 million salary. Dallas landed Dereck Lively II after moving down. The move created a trade exception that was used to absorb Richaun Holmes' contract from the Sacramento Kings with the draft rights to Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who was picked 24th overall.
According to Marc Stein, the Mavs have created a viable pathway to the $12.4 million midlevel exception to pursue "top wings" in free agency. The starting point of those efforts will be Bruce Brown.
"Dallas instead used Bertans' contract to move down two spots in the draft to select Duke center Dereck Lively II at No. 12 and likewise move far enough away from luxury-tax territory to gain use of the full non-taxpayers’ $12.4 million midlevel exception in free agency to pursue top wings in free agency (starting with Denver’s Bruce Brown)," Stein wrote.
The Denver Nuggets received a strong impact from Brown throughout his first season with the organization. He stepped up his game in the playoffs, averaging 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 26.5 minutes per game. His defensive versatility and secondary playmaking could add helpful dimensions alongside Doncic and Irving.
Brown declined his $6.8 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent. The Nuggets are eligible to offer him as much as $7.8 million to re-sign this offseason. If he takes a one-year deal to stay in Denver, he would be eligible for a four-year deal with an initial salary of about $14 million.
"Is Brucey B going anywhere?" Nuggets coach Michael Malone asked the crowd about Brown during the championship parade. "Hell no, hell no."
There will be no shortage of teams interested in signing Brown in free agency. A rebuilding team loaded with cap space could offer more than the Mavs' midlevel exception number. Meanwhile, the appeal of running it back and gaining a long-term contract with a championship team
Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).
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