DENVER — Former Nuggets sixth man Bruce Brown agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal with the Pacers at the start of free agency on Friday, a league source confirmed to The Denver Post.
The deal was about three times what Denver, at only $7.8 million per year, could offer him.
Brown’s departure means the Nuggets lost their most productive bench player throughout their championship run. And in replacing him, the Nuggets are expected to rely on internal development from second-year forwards Christian Braun and Peyton Watson. There’s also significant optimism about point guards Collin Gillespie and rookie Jalen Pickett and their potential contributions moving forward.
Despite telling The Post that he wanted to stay in Denver the night the Nuggets clinched the title, and then teasing a return several days later at the parade, Brown couldn’t pass up the significant payday.
Before Friday’s verbal agreement, Brown had made around $15 million throughout his career. But his production playing alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, not to mention how valuable he was in the NBA Finals, put him in a position to capitalize financially from his play.
The Nuggets also agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with veteran point guard Reggie Jackson, league sources told The Post, which includes a player option in the second year. His return, as a valuable veteran ball-handler, could soften the blow of Brown’s departure.
Veteran center DeAndre Jordan also agreed to return to Denver, a source said. He was an important piece of Denver’s locker room culture and established a genuine relationship with Jokic.
Nuggets GM Calvin Booth intended to bring back as many pieces as possible of this season’s championship roster. Hamstrung by salary cap restrictions, the Nuggets always viewed this offseason as important for internal development.
