The Bruce Brown conundrum

[Duffman100]

Picking up Brown's option has led to a very interesting issue.

I see it as below,

* A decent bench player to a team that has lacked depth for the last 4 seasons
* Potentially pushing us out of the top 10 in the lottery
* Due to his salary this year and the market demand, likely not getting us more than a meh 2nd rounder
* Could potentially want to resign at a reasonable rate with the current good vibes on this team
* Wouldn't want to be benched post deadline as it would impact his FA

So what do you do?

Do you trade him and get back only a 2nd?
Do you try and negotiate a deal now and bench him post deadline and have him on our bench next year when you try and win?

It's a tough pickle.

[Mr_NC]

Keep the cowboy and send him to the Calgary Stampede

[WuTang_CMB]

With this recent stretch, this FO will likely lean "we rather keep the vet to help develop" rather than selling off for pennies. If they are offered a 1RP, he's gone / that's a no brainer... but who knows at this point what his market is. I personally think they wont get that. If they keep him past the deadline, I wouldn't be surprised if they look to extend him in off-season or since they have his bird rights, they can S&T him.

[dhackett1565]

Unfortunately, Brown is not extension eligible. So you either trade him or let him hit FA, in which case you probably have to sign him to an above MLE deal to outbid other interested playoff teams, which might not be as much of a value deal as you'd hope.

[Zeno]

I don’t think it is a pickle. But if it is, you eat it. In the end, you take what you can get and move on. You have to always remind yourself what your ultimate goal is and take the “loss” if it is indeed one.

[Ducksplatt]

Trade him. Let the young guys play the rest of the season. Get good draft pick. If Bruce really liked his time here and the FO wants him back, resign him. Let’s not let this small win streak cloud the path of this development year


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[Jerry Lucas]

Don't think it's a conundrum at all. In the case of Brown (and Boucher but this thread isn't about him) it's pretty clear cut. Trade them for the best return you can get.

Blake Murphy put it best (he usually does): if these 2 guys really want to come back there are mechanisms to trade them at the deadline and still bring them back in the offseason with the flexibility they have.

There is pretty much no excuse to not trade Bruce and Boucher as the 2 expiring UFA vets on the team, whereas with the other 2 often discussed bench guys, Davion will be a RFA that the FO might consider to be worth his $8.7M QO, and Kelly isn't an expiring until next year (which means he might actually have more value next year because of how messed up the new CBA is lol).

Also with the new CBA, 2nd rounds picks won't be completely devoid of any value like they used to be.

[sidsid]

He has the full mix of useful on and off ball skills that I value a lot, but he makes more sense on a contender.

I'm still very much in the camp that the team should keep only one (1) useful vet that fits for the tank, the rest should gain us assets, and his name is KO. That won't hurt the tank much, and he fills the hardest requirements that a team needs around Barnes.

That means Jak, Boucher and Brown are out. Davion too if you need to match salaries, but I don't lump him in to the prime vet category.

[torsport]

I like Bruce Brown. If the team is going to win in the short or long term after a high draft pick this year, they will need vets. I'd have no issue re-signing Brown after this season, but he'll never be the reason the team is a contender, so if we don't I'm fine with it too. Grabbing future draft capital makes a lot of sense if there's a market.

[TorontoBarneys]

He's playing at a position we have a glut in and is ruining the tank. And you can get a 2nd for him.

I don't think there's a conundrum here, the play is obvious. The question is whether or not Masai is competent enough to succeed in moving him this deadline. If he isn't, then it's just another blow to the image of Masai being a competent GM.

[PhilBlackson]

Trade him (period).

What makes anyone think he’ll have any loyalty to our franchise without overpaying?! If all things are fairly equal especially with how much of the fan base blasted him on social media lol he’s not returning.

It would be unfortunate to get a handful of 2nds (I’m still holding out minor hope that one of GSW, MIL fork out a first outta desperation for Jimmy but not banking on it. But we gotta stop letting guys walk for nothing. There’s no more reason to believe that he will return that there was Fred and arguably even less so with even less emotional attachment to a “history” here like FVV had.

[DelAbbot]

Trade him (period).

What makes anyone think he’ll have any loyalty to our franchise without overpaying?! If all things are fairly equal especially with how much of the fan base blasted him on social media lol he’s not returning.

It would be unfortunate to get a handful of 2nds (I’m still holding out minor hope that one of GSW, MIL fork out a first outta desperation for Jimmy but not banking on it. But we gotta stop letting guys walk for nothing. There’s no more reason to believe that he will return that there was Fred and arguably even less so with even less emotional attachment to a “history” here like FVV had.

Fans are quick to forget his rehab was rather extended and his current salary is am overpay (to match Siakam)

[YogurtProducer]

To me, it all depends what the offer is. If the FO and Brown have a mutual understanding and would like to be back, it definitely changes things.

Brown on a say 3/48 extension (slightly above the MLE) I would think provides us with a solid contract for his performance, and also is a nice trade chip for any possible future deals. If that is a legitimate option, I don't think you throw him away for anything less than a 1st. A 2nd simply is not good enough value when you consider our roster.

IQ/Shead
Dick/Agbaji/Jakobe
Barrett/Battle
Barnes/Mogbo
Poeltl

is already 10 guys. We have 2 more picks this year which brings us to 12, and 3 next year which is 15. And that is all operating under the assumption we trade Brown/Boucher/Olynyk and do not re-sign Davion. That is a roster crunch and a LOT of guys who are making either big money or no money, which makes future trading next to impossible.

My preference is bringing those 10 above back, add our 2 picks, and keep 2 of Boucher/Brown/Olynyk/Davion, and fill out the 15th spot with a FA or keep it open.

[YogurtProducer]

He's playing at a position we have a glut in and is ruining the tank. And you can get a 2nd for him.

I don't think there's a conundrum here, the play is obvious. The question is whether or not Masai is competent enough to succeed in moving him this deadline. If he isn't, then it's just another blow to the image of Masai being a competent GM.

Another option is moving a Dick, Walter, or Agbaji for a nice center piece to take over for Poeltl eventually. That fixes the glut issue.

It all depends on what is available, however.

[Raptaurus]

If they want to compete now while continuing to retool on the side, then it would make sense to at least try and keep guys like Brown and Mitchell. With Brown, though, I am wary of Masai badly overpaying like he has been recently in signing the likes of Quickley and Olynik. Under the new CBA, you shouldnt pay a guy like Brown more than the MLE and likely even under $10 million.

[TorontoBarneys]

He's playing at a position we have a glut in and is ruining the tank. And you can get a 2nd for him.

I don't think there's a conundrum here, the play is obvious. The question is whether or not Masai is competent enough to succeed in moving him this deadline. If he isn't, then it's just another blow to the image of Masai being a competent GM.

Another option is moving a Dick, Walter, or Agbaji for a nice center piece to take over for Poeltl eventually. That fixes the glut issue.

It all depends on what is available, however.

I'd rather give those 3 another year at least to see what you really have before considering options like these. All 3 on cheap deals. Not really pieces you move.

[LoveMyRaps]

It's simple for me....

If you can get a first round pick or an enticing young player - TRADE HIM

If the best you can get for him is a second round pick - Resign him.


He's a fantastic role player and it's easy to understand why every contending team wants him.

[Spida888]

You absolutely have to trade him. If you picked up his option just to have him devalue our FRP, reduce play time for young guys and leave in FA, that's a huge L. Buying him out will also be a bad result.

If Minny would trade us Randle and attach the DET FRP for taking on extra money, great. If we only get SRP(s) for him, better than nothing. It's time to move on.

[Pointgod]

Trade him for a second round pick if you’re getting back expiring contracts or a 1st or multiple seconds if you’re taking back longer term salary. This isn’t that complicated.

Dennis Schroeder traded for an expiring contract and seconds
DFS traded for an expiring contract and seconds.
Nick Richards traded for an expiring contract and seconds

The market has been set for Brown, Boucher, Olynyk type players. This front office either needs to **** or get off the pot.

[Shakril]

His payday is simply to high for what he provides. We already have 3 big contracts with BBQ. Its better develop young players or "cheap" players than keep someone that does what you want, but for a price that you shouldnt pay.