It's official: Bruce Brown won't be back with the Denver Nuggets, at least not for training camp, as he signed an Exhibit 9 deal with the Knicks. It comes with a unique opportunity for him, as he'll get to help New York do what he walked away from in Denver — going back-to-back.
No one blames Brown (or at least, you shouldn't) for signing the two-year, $45 million deal with the Pacers a few weeks after the Nuggets won the title. It was more money than he could've gotten from Denver, and he chose what he felt was the best opportunity.
He didn't spend the full season in Indiana, as the Pacers traded him to Toronto before the February deadline for Pascal Siakam. Brown split the following season between the Raptors (18 games) and the Pelicans (23 games) after being on the move again in the Brandon Ingram deal. That helped lead him back to the Nuggets, as he signed a veteran minimum deal after his value dropped.
Brown will have to compete with several other veterans for a roster spot, but if he does, he can contribute to the Knicks' quest to repeat.
Brown didn't help Nuggets defend their title
Since leaving Denver in 2023, Brown hasn't been the same player, but it's still hard to believe that he's entering training camp on a non-guaranteed deal. It's a sign of the times, though, and as he did with the Nuggets in 2022-23, he'll have to prove his value.
There's no better place for him to do that than New York. Brown could be a strong addition for the Knicks on both ends of the floor, making the hustle plays that fueled Denver's championship run.
He may not have been part of the Knicks' title in June, but Brown will have a target on his back anyway if he stays in New York. They'll be the team to beat.
With other Eastern Conference teams like the Sixers and Raptors making splashy moves to bolster their roster to not just catch up to the Knicks, but take them down, Brown could prove to be of more importance than your typical end-of-the-bench guy.
He'll have to get used to the pressure that comes not only with representing New York but also with trying to go back-to-back, which is even more challenging in the era of parity.
In a way, Brown could address the unfinished business he left behind in Denver three years ago, but first, he'll have to make his case to the Knicks' brass.
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