2018 NBA Mock Draft: Way too early edition

For prospects making the jump to the NBA, it pays to be somewhere between 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-9 with the ability to play multiple “positions.” The expansion of smaller lineups in the modern version of the league has placed added importance on landing versatile wing players like Troy Brown, a 6-foot-7 incoming freshman at Oregon.

Brown spent plenty of his time in high school initiating the offense, but as he’s shown in postseason all-star games, he can fit in just about anywhere. He already has a 6-foot-11 wingspan and weighs 210 pounds, so he should be able to put that offensive versatility to use as a wing in the NBA. Brown has an impressively high basketball IQ and is comfortable creating his own shot. His jump shooting has improved in recent years as well, making him a reasonable threat from behind the 3-point arc. The knock on Brown is that he’ s not an exceptional athlete, which could limit his defensive ceiling, but his length should still make him a player on that end of the floor.

With the mass exodus that left Oregon at the end of last season, Brown should be put in position to play on the ball quite often right away in Eugene. Head coach Dana Altman has never had any problem trusting his wings to make plays for themselves and their teammates, so look for Brown to get plenty of opportunities to show what he can do as a creator on the wing this season.