4 Young players the Pacers should develop, 2 to give up on
By Tyler Watts
Give up: Kendall Brown
Brown was the 48th overall pick in 2022 and has barely played in his first two NBA seasons. His 103 total minutes are impossible to draw any conclusions from. The 21-year-old is still young with upside, but even his play in the G League showcases a potential issue.
Last season over 36 games combined between the Showcase Cup and the G League regular season, Brown averaged 17.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.0 steal in 34.1 minutes per game. Those are strong numbers, but he made just 35 of his 140 3-point attempts or 25.0 percent.
The 21-year-old will not be a ball-handler for the Pacers, so he must be able to space the floor to play a consistent role. He took over four threes each game, which is a positive sign. Without making those shots, Brown will struggle to find minutes in Indiana.
Despite playing two years in the NBA, Brown was in the summer league in 2024. He averaged just 21.7 minutes per contest over his four games and failed to impress, despite his considerable experience.
Kendall Brown is under contract for two more years at just over $2 million per season. There is no reason to waive him without a better option available. The Pacers should have zero qualms about adding the 21-year-old wing in a trade or moving on if a superior target can be secured.