21 up-for-grabs players who may play a starring role in NBA trade deadline rumors

Bruce Brown Jr., Toronto Raptors

It's surprising that Bruce Brown Jr. is still wearing a Toronto Raptors jersey. When the guard was sent north in the blockbuster deal that sent Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers, it felt inevitable that he'd be rerouted fairly quickly. However, the trade deadline buzzer rang, and Brown was still firmly with the Raptors as they opted to hold onto him for the time being. That might not be the case this season.

Just about every team in the league would like to have a Bruce Brown-esque player. He's the spitting image of the ideal role player, as he hustles, plays defense, rebounds, shoots the 3-pointer well and is capable of scoring. It was that impact that helped him secure a title with the Denver Nuggets in 2023, as he perfectly complemented the team's stars by doing all of the little things.

Brown can do all of those things for a contender. He's the type of player who can seamlessly land on any contender and make his mark. Teams looking to make a push for a title should look to bring him aboard for the stretch run. The odds of Toronto keeping him for the entire season seem slim, so they will likely move him to whichever team offers the most.

The prominent roadblock in any Brown deal - and why he is likely still in Toronto - is his massive salary. Brown will make $23 million this season, which is a hefty price to pay for a role player. It's a lot of cash, but if a contender feels like Brown could push them over the edge in their quest for a title, it wouldn't be surprising if they went all-in to get him.