2016 Houston Rockets Draft Prospect Series: Jaylen Brown, California

The Houston Rockets enter the upcoming 2016 NBA Draft without a top draft pick by virtue of making the post season. Unfettered the Rockets still hope to nab a star prospect with the potential to effect immediate results.  Over the next month SCS will look at the draft prospects   with a view to team fit and what moves would need to occur to get that pick. Is Jaylen Brown a prospect worth trading for?

Draft Prospect:

Specifics:

• Height: 6’7″
• Weight: 223
• Country: America – Marietta, Georgia
• Position: Small Forward
• Age: 19
• Reach: 8’7″
• Wingspan: 7′ 0″
• College or Pro League: California University – Freshman
• Stat line: 34 Games, 14.6 Points Per Game, 5.4 Rebounds Per Game, 2.0 Assists Per Game

Current Rank:

ESPN Chad Ford: 10th

Draft Express: 5th

NBA Scott Howard Cooper: 4th

Bleacher Report: 5th

The Skills:

Ford ranks Jaylen Brown‘s best assets as ability to penetrate paint, leaping and defense.

Brown seems to be the one player in the top part of the draft who the analysts can’t agree in. He ranks as high as 4th and as low as 10th.

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That said, he offers so many tangible assets given his upside. He’s athletic and brings solid defensive skills to the court and already has an NBA ready body. He is driven and competitive which are things GM’s love.

He’ll be beneficial for teams who want a wing who utilize quick offense in transition as he runs the wing and then can finish with a strong drive.

Just as his benefits are aplenty the area of his game that needs work is in developing a consistent shot and/or creating a shot for himself. Can he develop into a three and D player will be the biggest question and likely the reason his ranking is all over the place.

Honors and Awards:

As per Wikipedia

• First-team All-Pac-12 (2016)
• Pac-12 Freshman of the Year (2016)
• GHSA Class AAAAAA champion (2015)
• First-team Parade All-American (2015)
• McDonald’s All-American (2015)

The Fit:

With the Rockets not utilizing K.J. McDaniels much this season it seems redundant to want to add another player with talent. In addition, the Rockets still have the harbinger of Corey Brewer on the roster and the yet to play much Sam Dekker. Not to mention the main small forward minutes got to Trevor Ariza who offers everything the Rockets need (read: 3 & D).

Final Thoughts

Morey won’t make a move to add a rookie for a position they already have a glut of talent in.

Be sure to check out our continuing Draft Prospect Series and our Year End Player Reviews!

Next: SCS Roundtable Part 1?

Next: Rockets SCS Roundtable Part 2

Next: Rockets SCS Roundtable Part 3

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