The Pacers dip their toes – or rather cannonball – into the Free Agency waters by signing NBA champion Bruce Brown to a two-year, $45 million deal.
ESPN reporting with @malikaandrews: Free agent Bruce Brown has agreed on a two-year, $45M deal with the Indiana Pacers, his agents Ty Sullivan and Steven Heumann of @CAASports tell ESPN. Denver — limited in what it could pay — loses a key piece to its repeat hopes.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2023
Brown spent the last three years playing for contenders in Brooklyn and Denver, where he won a title, and I'm sure the Pacers brass are hoping his experience playing at the highest levels will help elevate their young team.
Some may question the fit – rightfully so – as Brown is only 6'5'' (generously, with shoes). Nevertheless, he's a true Swiss Army Knife that can guard 2-4. While Denver's size allowed him to play mostly on the wing, Brown was an effective forward for the Nets, even playing a significant portion of his minutes at Power Forward.
In addition to being versatile defensively, he's a jack of all trades on offense. An efficient 36% shooter from three, he has the shooting chops to play for Carlisle and help keep the paint open for Myles Turner. However, what really makes him stand out is his ability to pass the ball. He posted a 16.3 assist percentage last year, which placed him in the 83rd percentile among wings. He thrives in the short roll and should develop an instant chemistry with Tyrese Haliburton.
Brown is very malleable. Could see him combining some of what he was in Brooklyn, as well as Denver.
— Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) June 30, 2023
The Pacers love “guard” screens, and he’s going to catch a bunch of hit-ahead passes from Haliburton in transition. Plus, defense. Just a winning player. Fine overpay. https://t.co/B8MbfjQDkR
At face value, this signing might seem like an overpay. Bruce Brown is the definition of a role player and now he's the highest paid player on the roster. In fact, I'm fairly confident we were the only team offering him a contract with an AAV in the mid-twenties.
Nevertheless, the deal is still financially prudent. We had a mountain of cash we had to spend and the options for winning players outside of Brown were few and far between. Not only do we get a player who raises the team's floor, the deal effectively takes us past the cap floor. It also maintains our financial flexibility going forward as the contract reportedly has a team option on the second year. If things don't work out, or we simply need the space to sign a better player next summer, we can move on at our discretion.
Can confirm that Bruce Brown is signig with the Pacers on a two-year deal with a team option in the second year. @AlexGoldenNBA first (by a mile!)
— Tony East (@TonyREast) June 30, 2023
$45 million in total. $22 million first year and $23 million in the second year, I'm told.
Subject to the particulars of the Duarte trade, the Pacers still have between $12.5 and $14 million in cap space with an open roster spot. Expect another Woj bomb or two as Pritchard and Co. continue to improve the roster.
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