The Dallas Mavericks are interested in signing NBA champion Bruce Brown, according to Marc Stein.
Brown declined his $6.8 million 2023-24 player option with the Denver Nuggets, so he becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30.
The Mavericks traded forward Davis Bertans to the Oklahoma City Thunder, creating more cap space for the franchise to pursue Brown.
“Dallas instead used Bertāns’ 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 midlevel exception in free agency to pursue top wings in free agency (starting with Denver’s Bruce Brown),” Stein wrote.
The Mavericks missed the play-in tournament this past season despite having All-Stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Owner Marc Cuban and general manager Nico Harrison are eager to improve the roster around their two best players, so it makes sense they have Brown on their radar.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Bruce Brown, Denver Nuggets & Dallas Mavericks Updates
The 26-year-old Brown averaged 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Nuggets in 2022-23 while shooting 48.3% from the field, 35.8% from beyond the arc and 75.8% from the free-throw line. In the 2023 playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, Brown put up 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
The Boston native averaged 11.4 points, 4.4 boards and 1.0 assists in the Finals versus the Heat.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Bruce Brown, Denver Nuggets & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Brown has career averages of 8.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists with the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and Nuggets. He has improved his game every year he’s been in the NBA. It will be fascinating to see if the Miami product re-signs with Denver or plays for another team next season.
Irving, like Brown, becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30. The Duke product is widely expected to re-sign with the Mavericks.
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