Bruce Brown Jr., Nuggets Reportedly Agree to Contract After MPJ, Cam Johnson Trade

After being acquired by the New Orleans Pelicans at the 2025 trade deadline, veteran swingman Bruce Brown Jr.'s time in the Big Easy has come to an end after just a few months.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Denver Nuggets agreed to sign Brown to a one-year contract in free agency on Monday.

The deal is a reunion for both sides, as Brown was a key player on the Nuggets' 2023 NBA championship team, averaging 12.0 points off the bench during the postseason that year.

It was also another move for a busy Nuggets team on Monday:

The Pelicans had landed Brown in February as part of the trade package that sent forward Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors.

Brown played in 23 games for the Pelicans with 12 starts and averaged 8.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists. His stats weren't much different from his run with the Raptors, as he posted 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists across 18 appearances for Toronto this season.

A seven-year veteran, Brown has developed a reputation for being a quintessential "glue guy" who can impact the game in a variety of ways. His defensive versatility on the wing makes him a reliable contributor to any team.

Brown was a second-round pick by the Detroit Pistons in 2018 and has since played for the Brooklyn Nets, Nuggets and Indiana Pacers in addition to his tenures with the Raptors and Pelicans.

The Nuggets finished fourth in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record before losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals in seven games. Denver did not make a pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

Bringing back Brown gives the Nuggets a veteran with championship experience who can help the franchise return to title contention next season.