The Knicks trade target’s asking price has been revealed. Brown Bruce
Bruce Brown and the New York Knicks have similar interests. The Toronto Raptors are taking advantage of that.
The Raptors have set a high price for the 6-foot-4 Brown in an attempt to add more draft capital from the original Pascal Siakam trade, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
Teams interested in acquiring Bruce Brown have been told that the Raptors are asking for at least a quality player and a future first-round pick.
In his January 21 substack newsletter, Stein stated, “Toronto is aware that a number of competing teams are interested in Brown, noting his contributions to Denver’s title run last season, making the Raptors hopeful they can spark some robust bidding for a player with both championship pedigree and a team-friendly contract.”
Following an interview in which Brown candidly suggested he would be a perfect fit for the Knicks, the Raptors revealed their high asking price for Brown. “I am a dog,” Brown told Jared Schwartz of the New York Post. “I play extremely hard on both ends of the floor. I can pretty much do whatever [Tom Thibodeau] needs me to do.”
Brown continued, “I go up to him and shake his hand every time we play Thibs, just because of what he’s done.” “Just respect for Thibs, nothing more.”
The Indiana Pacers outbid the Knicks for the 27-year-old Brown in free agency, offering him a two-year contract worth $45 million. Brown took advantage of his championship run with the Denver Nuggets the previous season to earn a huge salary increase. With a $23 million team option in the offseason, he turns into a valuable trade chip after earning $22 million this year.
The Raptors’ asking price may allow the Knicks to package Quentin Grimes and Evan Fournier in exchange for Brown.
However, if Grimes is already included, will the Knicks be willing to add another first-round pick?
In order to replicate Immanuel Quickley’s playmaking and shooting in their second unit, the Knicks may have to give up a future first-round pick in exchange for another trade candidate.
Ian Begley of SNY claims that Jordan Clarkson, a former 6th Man of the Year who hasn’t taken home a championship like Brown, would cost the Knicks “a lot.”
“Jonathan Clarkson is a player that teams are looking at, and they say Utah will want a lot back,” Begley wrote following the Knicks’ 126-100 thrashing of the Toronto Raptors on January 20 at Madison Square Garden.
“He has a deal for the following year. Jordan Clarkson has been a huge asset to the [Jazz] organization and has been winning them games. Therefore, if you’re a Knicks fan and you want Jordan Clarkson, be aware that the team would need to give up a sizable amount of trade assets in order to acquire him.
If Thibodeau is a huge admirer of Brown’s two-way skill set, then Clarkson has another one in Walt Perrin, assistant general manager of the Knicks.
With the help of the former vice president of player personnel for the Jazz, Clarkson was traded to the Utah Jazz in the middle of the 2019–20 NBA season.
Soon after, Clarkson took off, winning the 2021 Sixth Man of the Year title as the Jazz won the regular season and defeated the Western Conference, only to lose in the second round of the playoffs.
