Boston Celtics: Power ranking team’s top 5 players right now
5. Jaylen Brown, SG
The jury is still out on Jaylen Brown, the Celtics’ 2016 first round pick. He flashed significant upside during his rookie season, but still has more ground to gain before we start considering him a pick well spent.
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Despite that uncertainty, his arrow appears to be pointing in an upward direction. While battling through nagging injuries, Brown played well during NBA Summer League. On top of that, he showed up in the NBA Africa Game, leading the World team to a decisive win with a team-high 15 points.
Still, even in that impressive outing we saw some of the concerns that linger in his game. He turned the ball over five times, was a non-factor on the glass and struggled from the free throw line. The athleticism and playmaking abilities can’t be questioned, but there are aspects of Brown’s game that need refinement — and fast.
Let’s pull it back for a minute, though. We must remember that Brown is only 20 years old, and is headed into only his second NBA season. There’s still plenty of time for him to grow and develop, especially within this loaded Boston roster.
That’s why he finds himself here at No. 5. He gained some momentum during the offseason between Summer League and the Africa Game, but needs to keep moving forward. The departure of Avery Bradley should open the door for him to play a prominent role for the Celtics. The only question now is whether or not he’s ready to seize the opportunity.