NBA Draft 2013: Lorenzo Brown scouting report

SB Nation is posting scouting reports of each prospect in the 2013 NBA Draft. Learn more about North Carolina State point guard Lorenzo Brown.

NAME: Lorenzo Brown.

SCHOOL: N.C. State.

AGE ON DRAFT NIGHT: 22 years, 10 months.

POSITION: Point guard.

MEASUREMENTS: 6’5, 189 pounds, 6’7 wingspan, 8’4 standing reach.

STATS:

RELEVANT ADVANCED STATS: 50.9% true shooting percentage this season. If Brown had only one wish, it would be for a jumper.

SB NATION BIG BOARD POSITION: No. 28.

NBA CEILING: Ramon Sessions.

NBA FLOOR: Javaris Crittenton.

With the majority of a Sweet 16 team coming back and a Top 10 recruiting class coming in, expectations around N.C. State were sky high this season. However, despite having an NBA-caliber player at every position on the floor, they were maddeningly inconsistent on both sides of the ball. Brown and C.J. Leslie, their two best players, were at the center of it. As a result, both have seen their draft stock stumble. For the season, Brown averaged 12 points, seven assists and four rebounds on 42 percent shooting.

At 6’5 190 with a 6’9 wingspan, he has fantastic size and athleticism for a PG. Unlike most combo guards shifted to the position, Brown is a legitimate floor general, capable of running an offense and creating shots for his teammates, especially in transition. The problem comes in the half court, where Brown can be an inconsistent shooter and decision-maker. Too many bad things happened when Brown had the ball at the end of a possession this season.

At the next level, Brown’s ability to impact the game as a passer, rebounder and defender from both backcourt positions will make him a valuable bench player. His jump shot is the only thing holding him back from starting.

Blog a Bull:

I really like watching Lorenzo Brown when he is on. If you are not familiar, please watch the following video:

This is a pretty talented guy. I love how he seems to move through the game in super slow motion. He’s big too. Seeing him post up Oladipo around the 3:00 mark, they look to be nearly the same size.

[...]

But Brown has more faults than sterling qualities. It’s more than just his shooting (though that is a huge problem). Like Rajon Rondo, he has a knack for making easy plays look hard, and this makes him more turnover-prone than necessary and a worse finisher than he should be given his size and athleticism.

His team underachieved; he sometimes doesn’t appear to care on defense; he’s overly flashy; his body language is aloof.... There is no chance the Bulls draft a guy like this. And if they did Thibs would almost certainly not play him. So while I would have no problem with this guy in principle (more ball handlers and more talent is good), in practice it would be almost guaranteed to be a doomed relationship. He’s also 23. If you’re going to matter in the NBA, you can’t still be inconsistent in college at age 23.

For more coverage, visit SB Nation’s NBA Draft 2013 section.