Trade Proposal Sends Raptors’ Bruce Brown To Cavaliers

One NBA analyst proposed that the Cleveland Cavaliers acquire Bruce Brown from the Toronto Raptors. 

Evan Massey of SI proposed the following mock trade between the Cavaliers and Raptors:

Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: Bruce Brown, 2025 Second-Round Pick via Portland

Toronto Raptors Receive: Caris LeVert, Dean Wade

The Raptors picked up Brown’s 2024-25 team option and are trying to trade him.

Brown will make $23 million next season. 

A Miami product, Brown played for the Indiana Pacers and Raptors last season. He averaged 10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks while shooting 47.8% from the field, 32.3% from beyond the arc and 82.4% from the free-throw line. 

A one-time NBA champion, Brown has career averages of 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Pacers and Raptors.

“Brown was a key part of the Nuggets’ championship run a couple of years back,” Massey wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “He is known for being an aggressive defender and a decent complimentary piece on the offensive end of the court. That skill set would fit well with Cleveland’s needs.

“Adding an elite perimeter defender would be a very wise move. With teams like the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference, teams simply cannot have enough defense. … Brown would be an upgrade from a fit perspective over LeVert. They would lose a little bit of scoring talent, but the defensive addition would more than make up for it.”

The Cavaliers lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. They had a quiet offseason, adding only JT Thor and rookie Jaylon Tyson. 

Cleveland did fire JB Bickerstaff and hire Kenny Atkinson. Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley all signed extensions as well. 

“This is purely speculation, but it’s a move that could make sense for Cleveland,” Massey wrote. “Brown’s game would fill some needs for the Cavaliers. At the very least, it’s an idea to switch something up.”