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2018 Orlando Magic NBA Draft Preview: Bruce Brown Jr., rough around the edges

By Philip Rossman-Reich

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 21: Miami (Fl) Hurricanes guard Bruce Brown Jr. (11) drives to the basket during the men's college basketball game between the Miami Hurricanes and NC State Wolfpack on January 21, 2018, at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Michael Berg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 21: Miami (Fl) Hurricanes guard Bruce Brown Jr. (11) drives to the basket during the men's college basketball game between the Miami Hurricanes and NC State Wolfpack on January 21, 2018, at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Michael Berg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Bruce Brown Jr., Miami Hurricanes
CORAL GABLES, FL – FEBRUARY 15: Miami guard Bruce Brown (11) dribbles during a college basketball game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the University of Miami Hurricanes on February 15, 2017 at the Watsco Center, Coral Gables, Florida. Miami defeated Georgia Tech 70-61. (Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Final Word

Bruce Brown Jr. is clearly a very talented player who has generated enough draft buzz to generate interest. The shiny parts of his game are the toughest things to teach.

He is a good defender on the wing who can disrupt plays and make life hard for offensive players. That is about all anyone can ask for from a perimeter defender. And that is what Brown will do.

It is the other parts of his game that need some smoothing. But they are tough things to smooth. And it will be hard for him to trade only on his defense early on his career.

Brown’s poor shooting last year for the Miami Hurricanes leaves a lot to be concerned. It simply is not good to see a player struggling on that end especially a perimeter player. He will not be the primary ball handler in the NBA. And he already had trouble sharing the ball with Lonnie Walker when he arrived in Coral Gables.

Hanging over all of this is a broken foot that cut Brown’s season short last year. He is surely back playing now, but that lack of tape and lack of improvement certainly leaves a bit of a sour taste in everyone’s mouth when it comes to his career.

He may have been better off staying another year to refine those aspects of his game. It does not seem like his draft stock could be much lower than it is now.

Still, Brown has plenty to like. It is tough to teach a player to love to play defense. Having a potential role player have a highlight reel that leads with solid defense leading to runouts is a rare thing. And that is something teams are looking for in late first- and early second-round picks. They want someone who will come in and provide something of value. The rest of his game can fill out.

Next: 2018 Draft Preview: Marvin Bagley III

There is a lot of game for Brown to fill out still. But the one thing he has going for him is that definable NBA skill. And surely that is a good place to start.