Jaylen Brown, SG/SF, California Golden Bears
14.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.0 apg
Jaylen Brown is a hybrid player who can do it all. Brown fits exactly what the Magic want to accomplish next season. He has average size for a NBA wing player but plays much bigger.
A Jack-of-all-trades type of guy is what you should expect from Brown. More than likely, he will be great at nothing, just very good at a lot of different things.
This is not necessarily a bad thing because the Magic could use an injection of everything. Drafting Brown could be the dream scenario at practice for Aaron Gordon’s future development as well. The battle for the Magic small forward position could be very interesting between the two young guys.
Strengths
- Defensive threat. He is capable of guarding smaller, quicker players or bigger, stronger players.
- Offensively, Brown is a fast-break gem. He is capable of leading the fast-break offense and finishing above the rim in transition.
- Brown is a contact seeker who is capable of drawing the foul and finishing through contact.
Weaknesses
- His area of opportunity will be his shooting touch. He can knock down the long ball, but definitely needs to improve on his 31-percent shooting from last season.
- Must become a better passer.
- Average ball handling skills
The Magic should welcome a top-five caliber player at number 11. Brown is a developing player still, but should catch on to the NBA style very quickly. The Magic could do well to add another skilled wing player behind Gordon and Hezonja, if they fail to resign Fournier this summer.
NBA Comparison: Andre Iguodala
Next: Young pup