2018 NBA Mock Draft: March is finally here

While I still think Brown could be a great fit in Charlotte, I’ve been thinking a lot recently about why Brown fades into the background of games so often.

For most of the season, I’ve blamed Dana Altman’s system for not featuring any one player enough, regardless of the fact that Brown has so much talent, and, as an 18-year-old, is more likely to improve on a nightly basis than most guys in the country.

However, watching Dillon Brooks and Jordan Bell play so well in the NBA this year and remembering the impact they had for Oregon’s Final Four squad last season, that hypothesis seems improbable. Even rookie Tyler Dorsey got off to a hot scoring start for the Hawks last season after contributing for the Ducks last March.

For Brown, it’s more about feel. Watching him against Arizona on Saturday, his scoring came as a result of the team’s system — rarely did he initiate that system. Brown is an opportunistic player, as evidenced by his nearly two offensive rebounds per game and his ability to make open shots. Unfortunately, he is shooting 29 percent from deep this year and rarely creates open shots at the rim in the half-court.

At this point, Brown is more of an idea of a player than a dominant prospect. However, he plays with energy and has gotten better as a ball-handler as the season has progressed. The conference and league tournaments will be important for him.