The Denver Nuggets made an overhaul to their bench this offseason and moved in a different direction than last year for their backcourt depth. They've signed Tyus Jones, DeMar DeRozan, and Alpha Diallo to fill the gaps left behind by Tim Hardaway Jr., Jalen Pickett, and Bruce Brown. Surprisingly, Brown is still a free agent two months deep into free agency, and it remains a mystery who he will end up with.
Brown was a key member of the Nuggets' 2022-23 NBA Championship-winning rotation, averaging 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 28.5 minutes over 80 games, and he even started 31. However, that season was Brown's best, and he made his way back to Denver just three years later after bouncing around with the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, and New Orleans Pelicans.
Brown was the Nuggets' most durable player last season, appearing in all 82 games. But Brown had a tough year, and he's been steadily declining since his 2022-23 peak. He averaged only 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 24.4 minutes, but he shot an impressive 38.5% from three.
Brown should land somewhere
While Brown has regressed, he's still a good depth piece for the right team, and at 30-years-old, he's not washed up by any means. And he's garnered interest on the free agent market. He just hasn't landed yet.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Philadelphia 76ers had interest in Brown, but they landed LeBron James and former Nuggets champion teammate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency. Brown isn't the defender that KCP is, and of course, LeBron is still one of the top players in the league, so you can see why they pivoted.
Fischer thinks Brown is going to end up with a "playoff-caliber team. It's just a matter of where and when," Fischer said. Which makes sense for Brown. He's a good veteran guard who can still contribute meaningful minutes for a contender who comes with championship experience. That team just probably won't be the Nuggets in 2026-27.
The Nuggets chose the right path for themselves
The Nuggets decided to adjust their bench depth this season due to salary cap constraints and team needs, and Brown just didn't fit this time. However, it's the right choice for the Nuggets for a big reason. Alpha Diallo.
Diallo will be the primary replacement for Peyton Watson and Brown's defensive gaps, and he'll do just fine. Diallo, the Defensive Player of the Year this year in the EuroLeague, may be a 29-year-old rookie, but his defense is spectacular. The Nuggets needed the defensive specialist more than they needed Brown's more rounded-out game.
Brown will eventually get picked up on a minimum contract by someone, and it's a surprise that he's still available.
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