4. Pacers move on from Brown
The Bulls were 27-13 when Lonzo Ball got hurt in January of 2022, which is a 55-win pace over a full 82-game slate. The 6’6 guard’s ability to hit shots and play multiple roles on both ends of the floor was key.
Would the Bulls be contenders by adding a similarly versatile player, who just helped the Nuggets win the championship? It is certainly worth exploring.
Brown is only 6’4, but he can guard multiple positions and operate in several areas. The Bulls could use him as a screener, ball-handler, playmaker, or floor spacer on offense. Brown’s shot over 37 percent from 3-point range over the last two seasons, but is inconsistent in that area.
The Pacers gave him a two-year $45 million deal this offseason, but the second year is a team option. If things are going south, they could look to move on in February. Brown could be a rental or not. The team would have control.
Giving up two rotation players and a first-round pick is a hefty price for Bruce Brown, but the Chicago Bulls are not getting him any other way. This trade would have to wait until Jan. 15, which gives both sides plenty of time to decide their future. Bruce Brown could be one of the cheapest fixes to the Bulls contending, but the Pacers likely have zero interest in letting him go.