Lakers, Suns Reportedly Had Interest in Bruce Brown Before Nuggets Contract in NBA FA

The Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns reportedly had interest in Bruce Brown before he returned to the Denver Nuggets on a one-year, $3.1 million deal, per Bennett Durando of the Denver Post.

Brown was the sixth man on the 2022-23 Nuggets team that won the franchise's first-ever NBA championship. After the season, Brown left in free agency for the Indiana Pacers on a two-year, $45 million contract. He ended up being traded to the Toronto Raptors (in Jan. 2024) and the New Orleans Pelicans (in Feb. 2025) before that deal expired.

However, it was clear Brown wanted to come back to a place that he loved and where he found great success. Durando provided more information.

"Brown spent those two years playing for Indiana, Toronto and New Orleans, but often thinking about Denver, envisioning a chance to return. He stayed active in a group chat with teammates," Durando wrote.

"He kept a compilation of his 2022-23 highlights saved on his phone. He sat court-side at a playoff game between the Nuggets and Clippers 'to prove a point that I wanted to be back,' he said recently at a local private event hosted by Jackson Family Wines. He followed through on that point by taking the Nuggets' offer amid interest from other teams, including the Lakers and Suns, league sources told The Post."

Brown said, per Durando: "I was like, 'You know what, I don't care how much (I get offered). If I get somewhere more, I don't care. I'm just gonna go back to Denver because I just think it's a perfect fit for me.' Playing style, and I mean, I want to win again. So I think it was a pretty quick answer for me once I found out they wanted me back."

The 29-year-old Brown has played seven NBA seasons for the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, Nuggets, Pacers, Raptors and Pelicans. Last year, Brown averaged 8.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 22.5 minutes over 41 games (12 starts).

Brown underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to deal with an injury that had been an issue during the 2023-24 season. He missed the first two months of the season and didn't debut last year until Dec. 29.

Thankfully, Brown enters this year with a clean bill of health and a full offseason to train. He's also back in an environment where he shined, averaging 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 28.5 minutes per game over 80 contests (31 starts) during the 2022-23 season.

Denver looks powerful on paper, perhaps the best threat to take down the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference. Led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets have an exciting supporting cast that includes longtime Nuggets Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon as well as Christian Braun, who averaged 15.4 PPG in his first year as a starter last season..

The team also added Cameron Johnson via trade from the Brooklyn Nets for Michael Porter Jr., and he should start at small forward. Jonas Valančiūnas will play backup center, and Tim Hardaway Jr. offered key depth on the wing.

And then there's Brown, who helps round out what might be the best bench in the league.

Denver's season tips off on Oct. 23 at the Golden State Warriors.