2018 NBA Mock Draft: The lottery is done and the order is set

I pinpointed Zhaire Smith for this spot over the last several weeks, but with Smith shooting up draft boards and excelling at the combine, it appears he may not even last to the end of the lottery. Denver needs a backup plan, then, and Brown is a great option.

The similarities between the two are obvious: active athletes with great defensive intelligence and questions about their role on offense. Smith just shoots up higher because of his instincts around the rim on both ends, somehow developing a more projectable offensive role than Brown, who roamed around aimlessly for much of Oregon’s season as Dana Altman struggled to form a cohesive team out of spare parts.

But enough about Smith: Brown has a physique better suited to defend NBA wings, weighing 208 pounds with a 6-11 wingspan. He looks the part of a wing stopper, like Andre Roberson and Danny Green before him (physical comparisons courtesy of ESPN).

If Brown can develop as a passer and especially as a shooter, he will become a core part of Denver’s team. They need a burst of offensive upside and passing on the perimeter. Nikola Jokic cannot do it all, and it can be too easy to focus on him when the backcourt is underperforming.

Brown will need time, but could be great.