Lakers: Way-too-early targets for the first-round of the 2018 NBA Draft
By Jason Reed
Troy Brown — SG
“Swiss Army Knife who can do a little bit of everything.”
That is how Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress.com described Brown last April before his freshman season with the Oregon Ducks. One year later and that description still fits Brown as he is one of the most versatile prospects in this year’s draft class.
Realistically, Brown has the flexibility to play anywhere from point guard to small forward at the NBA level. His six-foot-seven, lengthy, frame measures up nicely at any of those positions. His elite basketball IQ allows him to mold into any player the Lakers would need him to be.
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Brown’s shooting is fairly solid, although he can lack a consistent three-point shot at times. His size and frame have made him a good college defender that should translate fairly nicely to the NBA. Brown should be good for at least one steal per game at the NBA level.
On the Lakers, his best use would be as a combo guard, spending most of his time at shooting guard. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is on an expiring deal, as is Isaiah Thomas, so the Lakers are going to need to add depth to the position.
Bringing in Brown alongside Lonzo Ball would give the Lakers one of the biggest backcourts in the NBA, something that is rare in today’s small-ball style of play.
Brown will not be a revolutionary talent as has nowhere close to the ceiling of Metu or Robinson. However, he can help the Lakers in nearly every aspect of the game and adds depth anywhere from the one to the three. Despite only scoring 11.5 points per game, Brown can score at all three levels on the court. Just work on that shooting and he is golden.
Next: Where do Ball and Kuzma rank among top-10 rookies?
This is, of course, is Brown does declare for the NBA Draft. He could still sharpen some of his tools and could make a case to be a lottery pick in the future. However, with the current state of the NCAA in mind, Brown looks to be a one-and-done in the making.