Redrafting the 2016 NBA Draft

Jaylen Brown continues to get better with each passing season. The former No. 3 pick jumps up to No. 2 on the strength of his performance level to date, but also because of the room left for future improvement. Boston went to the NBA Finals last season, Brown having cemented his status as a perennial All-Star candidate and high-level postseason performer. And he’s just now entering his prime.

Expect Brown to add several more All-Star appearances to his resumé in the coming years. He’s built for it. He scores lots of points on good efficiency and the Celtics are potentially frontrunners to win the East for years to come. Brown is a gut-punch for unprepared defenses — an elite straight-line driver who can power his way to the rim or stop on a dime to unleash his pull-up jumper. Brown often makes difficult shots look easy and he’s one of the most exciting clutch performers in the sport right now.

The Celtics also get plenty of milage out of Brown on the defensive end. Boston is the best defense in the NBA by leaps and bounds right now because there’s no real chink in the armor. Brown wields a 7-foot wingspan and 223 pounds of muscle. He can credibly guard 3-4 positions every night and he’s highly adept at stalking passing lanes to generate turnovers.

The next step for Brown is playmaking. He averaged only 3.5 assists per game last season, which isn’t great for a star who controls the ball as often as Brown. Boston’s ball movement is often crisp and clean, but Brown would do well to explore the limits of his passing acumen. If he can learn to manipulate the defense and create for others like he creates for himself, Brown’s stardom will expand tremendously.