Bruce Brown’s trading market may be drying up. According to Matt Moore of the Action Network, the Los Angeles Lakers have ended trade talks with the Toronto Raptors for Brown ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline. Dejounte Murray is thought to be Los Angeles’ top priority as a trade target right now. Due to the two teams’ award salary matching options, it has been difficult to envision a Lakers deal for Brown. Los Angeles would have to deal at least one of D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, or Gabe Vincent to facilitate a trade. None of those players have clear trade value for Toronto as it begins on a rebuild.
Moore reports that interest from the New York Knicks has also faded. While the 27-year-old wing is still being considered for a move to New York, Brown is allegedly viewed as more of a backup plan in case the Knicks are unable to find someone better, according to Moore. Toronto is reportedly hoping for at least a first-round selection in exchange for Brown, but it’s uncertain whether such a deal can occur before the deadline. The Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks have also expressed interest in Brown, but matching contracts is tricky. Neither team possesses the kind of comparable wages that Toronto would seek in a trade for Brown.
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