Pacers Draft Options: Miami Guard Bruce Brown Jr.
By Luke Parrish
Miami’s Bruce Brown is an upside pick the Pacers should consider in this year’s draft. He could be quite the steal.
Bruce Brown worked out for the Pacers on Monday, giving the team a closer look at him prior to the upcoming NBA draft. The draft is less than two weeks away, and these workouts are crucial for all parties involved. Brown is trying to prove he has a place in the association after a not-so-exciting college career.
Brown was not bad by any means at Miami (Florida), but he did not quite meet all of the expectations set for him in his two years with the Hurricane. In those two years, Brown averaged just over 11 points per contest on .442/.316/.702 shooting splits. Brown has been solid on his two-point jump shots throughout his career. However, he was horrendous at the charity stripe this past season, hitting only 62.9 percent of his foul shots.
Strengths
The sophomore shooting guard was solid on the glass this season, racking up 7.1 rebounds per game in 2017-18. Nearly six of those rebounds came on the defensive end of the floor. For a 6-foot-5 guard, those numbers are excellent. Rebounding is crucial, as we all know, and his ability to go up and steal them away from bigger opponents will do him wonders in the NBA.
For an off-ball guard, Brown showed great signs of ball movement throughout his career. He averaged 3.5 assists over 52 career games. The only downside with that is his 2.1 turnover average, which he will need to improve upon moving forward, but he can still be considered a plus passer for his position.
Brown made a few plays on the defensive end each game, with 0.6 blocks and 1.4 steals per game in his collegiate career. While those numbers aren’t staggering, they are still impactful from the guard position.
Weaknesses
After a healthy freshman season, Brown played in just 19 games as a sophomore due to a foot injury. The injury will be something to keep an eye on in his workouts.
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Brown has potential offensively, but his shooting percentages are a definite cause for concern. The 26.7 percent three-point percentage and 62.9 percent free throw percentage in 2017-18 are particularly alarming. If he regains his form from his freshman year then he could be a quality role player. His inconsistencies offensively are a major red flag, though, especially given that he improved in almost every other category as a sophomore.
He only played two seasons of college basketball, but Brown is almost 22 years old already. He is much older than other guards in this draft, and he does not have much extra experience to show for it. That is concerning and hurts his value as a guy with potential.
Is Brown an option for Indiana?
If the Pacers want to land Bruce Brown, a trade is most likely necessary…in the second round. While he may be considered a first-round prospect, he will likely land between picks 32 and 38. The Pacers currently have the 23rd overall and 50th overall selections. The 23rd pick is too rich for Brown, but 50 is too late. If the Pacers were to land Brown in the early second round, they could have a solid project piece with a high floor, and it probably wouldn’t take much to trade for the pick to get him.
Next: 2018 Pacers Draft Preview: Melvin Frazier
Bruce Brown is an excellent rebounder and a decent playmaker, but his jump shot is a bit of a mess right now. In order for him to find a home in the NBA, he will have to improve his overall ability to score and limit the mistakes. He can be an excellent on-ball defender. If he finds his stroke again, he can be a role player for a long time in the NBA, and that could be attractive to the Pacers.