NBA Draft 2021: 6 big observations from the NBA Combine

Greg Brown struggles to make an impact

In the industry of player evaluation, you’re bound to be wrong. It’s an inevitable part of the job and after taking a few steps back, it’s clear Brown is miles away from being an impactful NBA player.

Brown’s pre-college tape put him at No. 4 on my preseason board. I was in love with his run-and-jump ability. Brown struggled at Texas and I made too many excuses as to why. After seeing him in person this week, I’m willing to admit I was wrong.

Brown’s jump shot did not look good. His release is too far to the right, and his guide hand sits too far on top of the ball. This caused an alarming amount of airballs. Even in basic offensive drills, Brown’s lack of feel was on display.

The first scrimmage was disastrous for Brown as he racked up five fouls, and three turnovers to just four points. The second scrimmage was better and he did show off his athleticism, but it still felt like he failed to make an impact.

Brown is still young and developing and time in the G-League could be great for his development. But seeing him live was a realization moment that he’s not the prospect I envisioned. He’s certainly still draftable, but Brown is now a mid-second round flier in my eyes.

Other notes

• While the shooting wasn’t there, I was impressed with Kessler Edwards’ team defense. He’s got great instincts, to go with size and length. The shot is funky, but there’s enough evidence from his time at Pepperdine to project him as a good shooter in the league. His role as a three-and-D wing is evident.
• Jericho Sims emerged from under the shadow of Texas’ other NBA prospects and had a terrific week. He measured and tested very well, then showcased his plus leaping ability in the scrimmages. To carve out a role as an energy big, Sims needs to be a bit more active, but he’s certainly worth a two-way contract and I could see him sticking as a back-end rotational big.
• Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland had one of the best singular halves in the combine, erupting for 15 points in the first half of his only scrimmage. He won me over a bit with his microwave scoring ability and effort.
• When Isaiah Mobley was initially invited to the NBA Combine, I didn’t anticipate much from him. After watching him for two years at USC, one could argue he played some of his best basketball at the combine. He was active on defense, snagging rebounds and making hustle plays. Offensively, he shot the ball with confidence and consistency, which will be key for his projection. I assumed Mobley would return to USC for his junior season, but his terrific play has him in contention for a two-way contract.
• It was not a banner week for some of the undersized guards in attendance. D.J. Steward measured in shorter than anticipated and then struggled in the scrimmages. He shot a combined 4-18 , and seemed to force the issue at times. Max Abmas, the NCAA’s reigning scoring champ, also struggled. Abmas, the shortest player at the event, looked overmatched. He couldn’t find his rhythm from deep and his lack of size inhibited him from passing over the defense. Neither player is draftable for me.
• One small guard who did not struggle was Colorado’s McKinley Wright. Playing as one of the few guards on his team, Wright showcased his toughness and speed with the ball. He constantly pressured the defense and got his teammates involved.

• Given his size, contributing at the next level will always be an uphill battle for Wright. But he’s a hard worker who continues to get better and it wouldn’t shock me if he stuck at the end of a bench for a few years.