Denver Nuggets face first free agency exit from NBA Championship team

21 June 2023 , 20:59

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Bruce Brown could leave the Denver Nuggets this offseason (Image: 2023 Getty Images)

The first member of the Denver Nuggets' championship-winning team could depart, as Bruce Brown is heading for free agency.

Brown declined his $6.8 million player option with the Nuggets on Wednesday, but doesn't necessarily want to leave the franchise. The 26-year-old told the Denver Post last week: "I want to stay. It’s a perfect fit.

"Money is not everything. The money will come. So I’m not worried about that right now." But Brown proceeded to decline his player option, and the most he can currently be offered by the Nuggets is $7.7 million.

Brown even asked the Nuggets fans during their parade celebrations if he should play for an extra year, as it was speculated he would decline the player option. Brown will now explore his options as a free agent before making a final decision.

It's not the only news to come out of Denver on Wednesday, as it was confirmed that the Nuggets have traded with the Indiana Pacers ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft. The Nuggets will acquire the 29th and 32nd overall picks in the draft on Thursday, and send a 2024 first-round pick and the 40th overall pick in this year's draft to the Pacers, according to ESPN.

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The 2024 first-round pick sent by the Nuggets was originally acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder, a deal made during the NBA Finals. There are more trades expected around the NBA ahead of the draft, with some as always seeming to occur as the night unfolds too.

The Nuggets will focus on the draft Thursday night before negotiating with Brown, with the forward one of their better options off the bench. Brown averaged 11.5 points per game last season, with 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

Brown said "I'm gonna get paid" when he lifted the NBA trophy (2023 Getty Images)

It was by far the best season of his career, and his first with the Nuggets. Brown was initially drafted by the Detroit Pistons, being picked up 42nd overall in the second-round.

Brown was later traded to the Brooklyn Nets before joining the Nuggets at the start of this season. The 26-year-old will forever be part of franchise history, but it's not known whether he will extend his legacy in Denver.

Despite claiming not to care too much about money at this stage, stating that "money will come" in the future, Brown did say when holding the NBA championship trophy: "I'm about to get paid." It was always likely that Brown would look to test the market as he was only on a two-year deal, and he may want to cash in on his recent success.

Joseph McBride