At this point in his career, center Brook Lopez’s performance is expected to fall off a cliff. Before that happens, Milwaukee Bucks management could be proactive and acquire former champion Bruce Brown from the Toronto Raptors this offseason.
Drafted 42nd overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2018, Brown debuted in October and has since developed into a versatile two-way player. Brown had a breakout game in 2019, scoring 22 points and 7 assists against the Brooklyn Nets. He continued his forceful play with a double-double against the Denver Nuggets in February 2020. In November, Brown was traded to the Nets in a three-team trade.
Brown’s career-best performance came in February 2021, when he scored 29 points in a win over the Sacramento Kings. Despite inconsistent playing time, he showed his skills in the 2022 playoffs, scoring 26 points for the Nets against the Celtics.
In the summer of 2022, Brown signed with the Denver Nuggets, where he would win his first NBA championship in 2023. He played a key role in the Finals, scoring 21 points in a key Game 4 win over the Miami Heat. Brown then joined the Indiana Pacers in 2023. a lucrative two-year contractbefore being traded to the Toronto Raptors in January 2024.
Milwaukee Bucks trade huge man Brook Lopez for former champion Bruce Brown
At 27, Brown is still in the prime of his career, and Lopez clearly isn’t. In an article for Forbes, Brian Sampson explained why the Bucks would be better off trading the former All-Star for the former champion.
“It’s an idea floated by O’Connor, who wrote, “Trading Brook Lopez for Brown would be a perfect salary match, and then the Raptors could move Lopez elsewhere. The amount of screening and cutting Brown could do to support Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard would be awesome to watch.”
I have to admit that using Brown as a screener for Antetokounmpo, Lillard, and even Khris Middleton would add a whole new dimension to the Bucks’ offense. They could use defense in innovative ways, constantly keeping opponents on their heels,” Sampson wrote.
Throughout his six-year careerBrown averaged 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He also shot 48 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point range and 76 percent from the free throw line.
With Brown, a true 3-and-D wing, in the lineup, head coach Doc Rivers will have another option on both ends of the court. That in turn will aid Milwaukee build a more impressive roster next season.
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