NBA Preseason: 5 surprising players making a splash in early exhibitions

5. Moses Brown takes NBA Preseason as a chance to crack the Clippers’ rotation.

Seeing a young player bounce across five teams in four seasons might seem like a red flag, but for Moses Brown, it’s all been about one big learning experience – emphasis on the big. Now suiting up for the LA Clippers, the 22-year-old Brown is in the mix for the team’s backup center minutes and quite frankly, giving him a clear role from the jump might be in the best interest of the team.

Brown looked outright dominant in the Clippers’ preseason debut — although it should be taken with a grain of salt since the team competed against Maccabi Ra’anana of Israel. Nonetheless, Brown was fantastic on the interior, competing on the glass with excellent timing and commitment while serving as a fantastic rim defender. Standing at 7-foot-2, Brown is one of the most explosive athletes you could imagine for a player with that stature, and now, he’s seeming to grasp ways to functionalize his athleticism.

For an LA Clippers team starting Ivica Zubac, having a more athletic backup to complement the rotation and give a different look would do dividends when diversifying lineups. Brown hasn’t spent much time playing a significant role in a winning context, so there might be a learning curve, but the potential for his impact within a defined role is exponential.

Don’t be surprised if Moses Brown ends up being a difference-maker for the Clippers this year.