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Report: Bruce Brown Jr., Pelicans 'Open' to New Contract After Trade from Raptors

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIFebruary 7, 2025

Bruce Brown Jr. of Toronto Raptors dunks during the 2024-2025 NBA regular season game between Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks in Toronto, Canada, on Dec. 29, 2024. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Zou Zheng/Xinhua via Getty Images

The New Orleans Pelicans and Bruce Brown are open to a new deal this offseason after the Pels acquired him as part of the recent Brandon Ingram trade with the Toronto Raptors.

NBA insider Jake Fischer reported the news.

Jake Fischer @JakeLFischer

Bruce Brown Jr. is not a buyout candidate. The Pelicans are keeping Brown, sources said, and both sides sound open to a new deal at season's end. Brown should also have plenty of interest in free agency, if he continues a strong return from injury.

Brown landed with the Pels on Wednesday. ESPN's Shams Charania broke the trade down.

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania

Breaking: The New Orleans Pelicans have traded Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors for Bruce Brown Jr., Kelly Olynyk, one first-round pick and one second-rounder, sources tell ESPN. <a href="https://t.co/tI4jo2cYhM">pic.twitter.com/tI4jo2cYhM</a>

The 6'4" Brown is in his seventh NBA season. In 18 games this year, he's averaged 8.4 points on 43.5 percent shooting (30.6 percent from three) and 3.8 rebounds over 19.6 minutes per contest. Brown missed the first two-plus months of the season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Brown is only two years removed from being a tremendous asset for the NBA champion Denver Nuggets. He was a sixth man for that title-winning team, posting 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals during a tremendous playoff run.

He's been well-traveled ever since. Brown signed a two-year, $45 million deal in the 2023 offseason with the Indiana Pacers, but they dealt him midway through the year in a trade that brought them forward Pascal Siakam.

One year later, Brown is out of Toronto for another star forward in Brandon Ingram.

He's still a valuable and versatile asset who should get interest in free agency next year. The Pelicans are an option based on the Fischer report, but teams looking to fill a variety of roles should be looking toward Brown when his contract expires.