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Boston Celtics: Realistic Expectations For Jaylen Brown's Rookie Year

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With NBA training camps opening up, here’s a realistic look at what to expect from Jaylen Brown in his rookie season with the Boston Celtics.

Not many expected Jaylen Brown to go third overall to the Boston Celtics leading up to the NBA draft, but Boston took a gamble, seeing Brown as much more than a project on offense.

Where his promise lies is in his defensive versatility as a gifted athlete who can guard multiple positions.

He can upsize and defend power forwards, but he also has the lateral quickness, agility and awareness to go after guards. Very few guys in the league can fully guard the perimeter and step into the low post.

That’s how special of a talent Brown is.

But can his defensive promise make up for his lack of scoring talent?

Brown’s Weaknesses

While he’s not a gifted scorer, that doesn’t mean he’s incapable of putting any points on the board.

Sure he has holes in his offensive game, but his athleticism and bounce still lead to free throw opportunities. Brown has a knack for driving into the lane and drawing contact, as was on display at NBA Summer League.

Through six games, Brown attempted 61 total free throws and converted on 68.7 percent of them. His efficiency wasn’t great but he remained effective.

That’s the kind of intensity and willingness necessary to earn minutes in head coach Brad Stevens’ rotation. He wants defensive-minded talents that can hold their own and contribute on offense.

Unfortunately, this is where the negative comes in.

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Brown’s a terrible shooter from anywhere other than at the rim. He hit 61.6 percent of his shots at the rim per Hoop-Math, but his complete slash line of .431/.294/.654 is disappointing from a high lottery pick.

Not only was he an unreliable shooter from outside, but when he drove the ball inside he was very turnover prone. He averaged 3.1 turnovers to just 2.0 assists per game. Brown showed off a little court vision and even ran the point for the Cal Golden Bears at times, but that’s not a long-term fit for his skill set.

The good news is that he doesn’t have to run any primary ball handling duties while in Boston. Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart manage the offense for the Celtics. Brown will be free to catch passes off cuts to the lane and do what he does best.

But these weaknesses still limit his overall upside, at least for now.

Final Projections

There’s a lot to like about Brown, but enough to dislike. His future as a second or even third option on offense is questionable.

Right now Brown is comparable to a larger, more athletic Tony Allen. He’s a tenacious defender with a great attitude and work ethic. Now it’s about using those physical tools and building on them with a solid foundation of offensive skills.

Stevens has his work cut out for him, but in the meantime he’ll have a lot of fun scheming defensively with a player like Brown.

If Brown hits his mark, then he has the makings of a future All-Star. But if he doesn’t? That Tony Allen comparison won’t be far off the mark.

Projected 2016-17 Stat Line:  7.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 2.3 TOV, 42 FG%, 23 3P%

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