Fansided

2016 NBA Draft: where are they now?

By Brandon Jefferson

TORONTO, ON - MAY 7: Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) reaches in on Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43). Toronto Raptors vs Philadelphia 76ers in1st half action of Round 2, Game 5 of NBA playoff play at Scotiabank Arena. Raptors win 125-89 and now lead series 3-2. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 7: Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) reaches in on Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43). Toronto Raptors vs Philadelphia 76ers in1st half action of Round 2, Game 5 of NBA playoff play at Scotiabank Arena. Raptors win 125-89 and now lead series 3-2. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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BOTON, MA – JUNE 24: Jaylen Brown poses for a portrait after being drafted by the Boston Celtics during the 2016 NBA Draft on June 24, 2016 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOTON, MA – JUNE 24: Jaylen Brown poses for a portrait after being drafted by the Boston Celtics during the 2016 NBA Draft on June 24, 2016 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

The 2016 NBA Draft was initially thought of as being a two-person draft with a steep decline in talent behind Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram. Sitting at third thanks to the infamous Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce trade with the Brooklyn Nets, the Boston Celtics hoped to take advantage of this high draft pick and continue to add to their collection of assets.

Finding the player who could do that was the tricky part facing Danny Ainge and the rest of the Celtics front office during the draft. Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram were clearly the cream of the crop, but figuring out who to select third-overall was a lot trickier.

While Dragan Bender and Kris Dunn received some looks from Boston and both carried intrigue, the Celtics ultimately decided to go with Jaylen Brown out of the University of California at Berkeley. Brown was a top recruit in the 2015 senior class, but he opted to create his own path–and challenge himself in the classroom as well–by going to Cal for one season. The Golden Bears had talent (Jabari Bird and Ivan Rabb played with Brown) but the skills of their best players didn’t merge well with each other and the team had a disappointing season culminating in an opening-round upset in the NCAA Tournament.

Brown’s intellect and interests off the court made some question his dedication to the game and coupled with his underperformance as a freshman there were eyebrows raised at this selection. However, over the course of his inaugural NBA season, Brown showed enough potential as a rookie (named to the 2016-17 All-Rookie team) that it quickly quieted any critics of the choice. Even though he was selected high, he looked like a steal given Simmons’ injuries and Ingram’s up-and-down rookie season.

The Celtics were, and remain, high on Brown as they elected to hold on to him instead of dealing him to the San Antonio Spurs in an attempt to get Kawhi Leonard last summer. Boston’s 2018-19 season didn’t go as planned. Brown struggled initially to gel with the Celtics “superteam” lineup of Kyrie Irving, Brown, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, and Al Horford. Brad Stevens would move Brown to the bench after starting in the first 19 games he played and by January Brown looked to have regained his confidence. With the inconsistent season behind him and Irving and Horford likely playing elsewhere next year, Brown is one of the Celtics building blocks for the future.

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