Lakers Rumors: Bruce Brown Drawing Significant Interest amid Nuggets Contract Buzz

It appears the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to add more championship pedigree to their roster next season.

The Purple and Gold have "significant interest" in Denver Nuggets veteran Bruce Brown, according to Mike Singer of the Denver Post. They can offer him the full mid-level exception worth $12.3 million annually, Singer added.

Denver cannot offer him more than $7.8 million for the 2023-24 season.

Brown declined his $6.8 million player option with the Nuggets in 2023-24 to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

However, he told reporters earlier this month that he was open to remaining in Denver next season.

"I want to stay," Brown said. "… It's a perfect fit. And money is not everything. The money will come. So I'm not worried about that right now."

The 26-year-old played a critical role off the bench for Denver in 2022-23 and he meshed well with the franchise's core of Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. He averaged 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 80 games while shooting 48.3 percent from the floor and 35.8 percent deep.

Brown proved to be an even more effective component during the team's title run in the 2023 postseason, averaging 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 20 games while shooting 51.1 percent from the floor and 31.6 percent from deep.

The Lakers have been exploring all of their options this summer as they aim to bring in reinforcements around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, though their main priority has been to retain the services of Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura.

If Brown were to sign with the Lakers, he'd serve as a depth option behind James at small forward, though he also has the ability to play as a point guard or shooting guard if needed.

The Lakers had a disappointing 2022-23 campaign as they finished seventh in the Western Conference before being swept by the Golden State Warriors in the conference finals. With their championship window not as wide open as it once was, bringing in a player like Brown could be beneficial.