The Los Angeles Lakers came closer than previously known to landing one of the NBA’s most versatile perimeter defenders following the Denver Nuggets’ 2023 championship run. Bruce Brown, a key piece of Denver’s title team, revealed that the Lakers aggressively pursued him in free agency — and nearly landed him.
“I was going to the Lakers after the championship. I was going to the Lakers,” Brown said on DNVR Nuggets. “Free agency started, and they called me. Darvin Ham is the head coach. And they wanted me to be the starting point guard.”
According to Brown, the Lakers offered a three-year, $50 million deal and envisioned him running the offense alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
“I got LeBron, I got AD… I want to win again,” Brown said. “I can be the starting point guard for this, and all I have to do is give guys the ball and get the hell out of the way.”
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How Indiana Changed Everything
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The deal was all but finalized when Brown’s agent called back with a competing offer from the Indiana Pacers.
“He’s like, ‘Hold on, we got a call from Indy. It might be a crazy deal,’” Brown said. “Calls me again, he’s like two years, $40 [million]… I’m like, ‘Where do we sign?’”
That offer ultimately became a two-year, $45 million contract, making Brown the Pacers’ highest-paid player. The Lakers pivoted instead, re-signing D’Angelo Russell and adding Gabe Vincent.
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Regret Sets In
Brown’s post-Denver path proved turbulent. He was traded from Indiana to Toronto as part of the Pascal Siakam deal, then flipped again to New Orleans before returning to Denver on a one-year deal in 2025. Looking back, the regret is clear.
“When I got to Toronto… I’m like, ‘Where the f*** did I go?’ I could have stayed in Denver and been happy,” Brown admitted via TSN Sports.
What the Lakers Missed
Brown’s defensive versatility, basketball IQ, and playoff-tested mentality would have fit seamlessly next to James and Davis. While shooting was never his calling card, his ability to guard multiple positions and make connective plays addressed weaknesses the Lakers have continued to chase.
Instead, Los Angeles missed out — a rare case where the pursuit was real, the role was clear, and the fit was obvious. Sometimes, the “what if” lingers longer than the signing that never happened.
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