Lakers Lose Out On $45 Million NBA Champion After Shocking Move

The Los Angeles Lakers showed interest in at least one NBA champion but things didn’t work in their favor in one particular case. According to several reports, the Lakers were close to signing former Denver Nuggets guard Bruce Brown. The Indiana Pacers made a move and offered Brown a two-year deal worth $45 million.

Jovan Buha from the Athletic was among the first to discuss the development of events. Signing Brown was an unexpected move for the Pacers as they were able to free up some space and get the talented player.

“In the days leading into free agency, the Lakers were confident they would land former Nuggets wing Bruce Brown with a multiyear non-taxpayer midlevel exception contract, multiple league sources told The Athletic,” Buha reported on July 1, 2023. “But that changed Friday morning when the Indiana Pacers cleared additional cap space and became the favorites to land Brown. Brown ended up agreeing to a two-year, $45 million deal with Indiana, nearly double the annual value the Lakers could offer him.”

Lakers wanted the NBA champion, made him a top target

The Lakers had a few good reasons to get Brown. He averaged 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game for the Nuggets in 80 games last season. The veteran had a $13.2 deal with the Nuggets, and Pacers offered him a good deal. LA couldn’t match this.

The Lakers have significant interest in signing Bruce Brown, per Mike Singer. pic.twitter.com/Pto4CRT9WJ

— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) June 29, 2023

Jake Fischer from Yahoo Sports reported that the Lakers viewed Brown as their top target.

“Bruce Brown, the Lakers’ top target with that full mid-level, quickly signed with the Pacers for two years and $45 million, league sources told Yahoo Sports,” Fischer wrote on July 1. “Eric Gordon was another name on the Lakers’ radar, but Los Angeles opted to move forward with Vincent.”

The Lakers missed Brown, but they made some good deals, too. They kept Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and D’Angelo Russell on the roster. The franchise lost Dennis Schroder, but got Vincent Gabe.

Buha reported that the Lakers are targeting a few other players.

With the center market becoming increasingly thin, should the Lakers bring back Mo Bamba? #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/eveXBDtR1A

— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) June 26, 2023

“L.A. is targeting another big man with its 14th roster spot, according to team sources,” Buha explained on July 1. “They are likely to carry 14 guaranteed contracts into the season, leaving one roster spot open. Mo Bamba, whom the Lakers waived on Thursday, and Tristan Thompson, who joined the team right before their playoff run, remain options to fill that 14th spot, according to league sources. The big man market has been dry so far during this free-agency period, so the Lakers could also wait to see if better options present themselves.”