The Philadelphia 76ers are getting closer to training camp, but the front office still has a good reason to keep an eye on the developments in the open market. After all, they still have one roster spot available, although their cap situation prevents them from filling it up. Be that as it may, if they exercise patience, they should be in play for some of the top free agents remaining, such as Bruce Brown, whose training camp deal with the Knicks could end up being a huge dud.
In a rather confounding fashion, Brown saw his market dry up completely this offseason, despite turning in a productive campaign individually this past season. He now has an opportunity to crack the Knicks roster during the preseason, although he has a lot of competition for New York's final roster spot. As such, if he fails to make it to their opening night lineup, Philly could target him later.
The 76ers could target Bruce Brown later if he fails in his Knicks audition
Brown, who was a critical piece of the Nuggets team that won the championship back in 2023, is one of the top free agents available on the market before the Knicks scooped him up for an audition in training camp. There is a lot to like about his hypothetical fit with the 76ers thanks to his skill set and experience.
A versatile veteran wing, Brown is a low-usage, two-way contributor who thrives in the little things on the court. He is a reliable defender who can guard most perimeter players, even those bigger and taller than him. Offensively, he is respectable enough from three-point range in low volume and is steady enough to be trusted with the rock as a release valve on the tertiary.
The 30-year-old's experience in the postseason and in the Finals also cannot be glossed over. While he has declined since his title run with the Nuggets three years ago, he is still someone whom the coaching staff can turn to, giving the team a steadier hand when needed without the attendant cost of putting another ball-dominant player on the floor. As mentioned, Brown does his best work in the intangibles.
The Knicks have basically commenced a fishing expedition for their final roster spot, so there is a good shot that Brown does not make their lineup after the preseason. If so, the 76ers should keep close tabs on him and pounce on the opportunity to snag him for cheap when they are finally able to do so.
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