NBA training camps are right around the corner, and teams are putting their final touches on their rosters. Players who remain unsigned in free agency will sign training camp deals in hopes of landing one of the final roster spots around the league.
One of those players who landed their next opportunity was former Detroit Pistons guard Bruce Brown. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the 30-year-old guard signed a training camp contract with the New York Knicks.
Ex-Pistons guard Bruce Brown has a chance to make the Knicks roster
The reigning champions have two open roster spots, and Brown will be competing with other veterans like James Wiseman, Ochai Agbaji, John Konchar, and Drew Eubanks to grab one of those spots.
This is a surprising development for Brown, who played all 82 games for the Denver Nuggets last season. He wasn't as effective as he was earlier in his career, including his stint with the Pistons, but he was still a two-way option who shot 38.5% from three and provided playmaking. The fact that he couldn't even find a veteran minimum deal anywhere is difficult to understand.
It also makes one wonder whether the Pistons are making the best use of their final roster spots. If there are capable veterans like Brown available on training camp deals, are the Pistons making a mistake by having the likes of Taurean Prince and Gary Harris on guaranteed contracts? Could they get an upgrade in their last few roster spots?
Brown's skill set isn't what the Pistons need at the moment. He doesn't shoot the ball with enough volume and doesn't have enough scoring chops. He could exacerbate Detroit's half-court offense issues.
But the fact that one of Detroit's rivals can bring a player of Brown's caliber, along with other competent role players, in on a training camp deal makes one wonder whether the Pistons are doing their best in terms of resource allocation.
Younger Pistons fans may not remember, but Brown was an excellent find in the middle of the second round in the 2018 NBA Draft by Detroit. He became a starter immediately as a rookie, impressing with his defensive versatility and physicality. He started in 99 games in two seasons with the Pistons before he was traded to the Nets in the 2020 offseason as part of the deal that landed Saddiq Bey in Detroit.
Brown has had successful stints with the Nets, Nuggets, and the Raptors since then, including winning a title with Denver as one of their most important backups. Whether he can still be a serious contributor on another title contender remains to be seen, but it looks like he will get a chance to earn himself a role on one.
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