NBA free agency is well underway, and Portland Trail Blazers fans are eager for their team to make an addition to their up-and-coming roster. Western Conference teams continue to strengthen their roster, further separating themselves from teams like Portland that are hoping to sneak their way into a playoff spot next season.
One example of this was the Denver Nuggets signing Bruce Brown Jr. to a one-year deal, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
The fact that Brown is reuniting with his former team isn't surprising, considering the key role he played in their 2023 championship run. However, the amount he signed for is shocking, as Sam Amick of The Athletic reports that Brown is coming back on the veteran's minimum.
The Nuggets landed a steal with Bruce Brown Jr.
Meanwhile, there are teams like the Blazers who have yet to make a splash in free agency that could have offered Brown a substantial amount more than that, potentially making up for any ties he has with his former team.
The Blazers recently bought out Deandre Ayton, which forfeited $10 million of his $35.6 million salary. That move positioned Portland to have full access to the MLE ($14.1 million) without going into the luxury tax. But getting there is one thing; using it is another.
The Blazers, despite their surprising trade for Jrue Holiday, seem to be prioritizing keeping their salary books as open as possible to preserve flexibility in the coming seasons. That may have caused them to miss out on a golden opportunity to add a valuable role player in Brown.
Portland missed golden opportunity to add a 'top free agent target'
This past season, he averaged 8.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 42/33/82 shooting splits. As a Swiss Army Knife, he would have bolstered Portland's depth at multiple positions, giving Chauncey Billups more optionality with his rotations. His championship experience as a 28-year-old veteran would have also been a huge boost in helping Portland get back to the playoffs.
Brown was even named a top free agent target for the Blazers by Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz. The idea is that the Blazers have solidified both their backcourt and center rotations with the trade for Holiday and the selection of Hansen Yang.
For the remainder of the offseason, Portland should be trying to address their wing/forward depth, especially since they didn't extend a qualifying offer to Jabari Walker, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Unfortunately, the Nuggets landed a steal in Brown, pairing him with Cam Johnson following their trade with Brooklyn. Portland's top three free agent targets from Swartz's list have all found landing spots: Brown (Nuggets), Nicolas Batum (Clippers), and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Hawks). With each signing, the Blazers' chances to meaningfully upgrade their roster continue to shrink.
Of the three, Brown was the best value signing, making it the most frustrating that the Blazers couldn't land a deal with a substantial raise from the minimum he just signed for.