Could the Toronto Raptors snag Greg Brown in the late first round?

The Toronto Raptors are totally focused on the upcoming NBA Draft, which will assuredly hand them one of the Top 10 picks in this class. However, the talent in this crop of players extends all the way to the end of the first round, meaning that a potential star like Texas big Greg Brown could be a steal in that range.

Brown didn’t have the best statistical season under Shaka Smart at Texas, but all of the traits that made him a very hyped recruit were on full display, as his athletic ability got NBA teams interested in potentially selecting him.

The former Longhorn might not even be the first Texas big selected in this draft, as Brown’s teammate Kai Jones is jostling with him for draft position. If teams are interested in a more immediate return, however, Brown might end up being the earlier selection.

Brown announced that after just one season of college basketball, he was taking his talents to the professional ranks. If the Raptors are able to package some picks and move into the latter half of the first round, or if they trade down out of the lottery, would Brown make a ton of sense as a potential draft pick?

Toronto Raptors draft: Greg Brown strengths

Brown is one of the best athletes in the draft at any position. A freaky leaper with the ability to blow past slower bigs, Brown has shown solid ball-handling ability for someone his size, the ability to attack the rim with ferocity, and enough IQ to ake incisive passes off of the dribble. Creating his shot is an issue, but he has a few tools in his toolbox on offense.

On defense, Brown is the switchblade that every team is trying to unearth. With the ability to switch onto several different positions and block a shot once he gets there, Brown’s potential on defense might actually be more enticing than his offense.

Toronto Raptors draft: Greg Brown weaknesses:

Brown scored just 9.3 points per game for the Longhorns and made just 42% of his shots. For a big man that is going to be in the paint a ton early in his career, that is not a good sign. It’s even more concerning when you take into account the fact that most of his makes were rim-running dunks and close finishes. He made just 33% of his 3-point attempts.

Brown is, like Jones, a puzzling evaluation from a fit standpoint. Will the league force him to add some weight and make him play like a traditional power forward a la Pascal Siakam? Or will they allow him to stay at 205, improve his jump shot, and make him an oversized wing player? That uncertainty could hurt him.

How would Greg Brown fit on the Toronto Raptors?

Brown would be a developmental prospect that the Raptors would have to move down from No. 7 or up from the middle of the second round to select. His role wouldn’t be dissimilar to that of Freddie Gillespie. Just rebound, finish easy looks inside, and play defense. The rest will come along incrementally.