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Toronto Raptors: Will Lorenzo Brown have a meaningful role next season?

By Mike Bossetti

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 20: Lorenzo Brown #4 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball against the Washington Wizards in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2018 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 20: Lorenzo Brown #4 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball against the Washington Wizards in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2018 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors – Lorenzo Brown /

How he fits in

In many ways, Lorenzo Brown was the Raptors 905 offense last season. Finishing as the league’s runner-ups, the 905 won by slowing teams down, playing great defense, and scoring just enough to get by.

The 905 finished with the leagues slowest pace and best defense. However, they ranked near the bottom of the league in offensive efficiency and last in points per game. Despite playing for one of the league’s worst offenses, Brown managed to put up numbers on a consistent basis.

In many ways, the 905 were similar to the 2000-2001 Philadelphia 76ers. An elite defense with an offense focused around one elite scorer.

This year he will be asked to do a complete 180. Brown will never be one of the most talented offensive players on the court. In fact, it’s hard to imagine a situation where Brown is anything other than the fourth or fifth option on the court, with the exception of garbage time.

Even more of a question than his role when on the court, is how often will Brown play this season?

He currently is currently the 13th or 14th most talented player on the roster and is positioned as the fourth point guard on the Raptors depth chart.  With players such as Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Delon Wright all ahead of him, Brown isn’t likely to see much playing time with the exception of injuries.

The one unlikely, but possible, route for playing time for Brown is at the shooting guard position. 6’5″ with a 6’7″ wingspan, Brown has the ability to guard most opposing two-guards. The larger, more physical players, might be a different story.

If he can improve his shooting enough to consistently draw attention from opposing defenses,  it is possible that he finds himself in the rotation at some point.

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