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Jim Larranaga says Bruce Brown’s NBA future is at point guard

By Alan Rubenstein

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 24: Bruce Brown Jr. #11 of the Miami Hurricanes drives to the basket while being defended by Anas Mahmoud #14 of the Louisville Cardinals during the second half of the game at The Watsco Center on January 24, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 24: Bruce Brown Jr. #11 of the Miami Hurricanes drives to the basket while being defended by Anas Mahmoud #14 of the Louisville Cardinals during the second half of the game at The Watsco Center on January 24, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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At the time of his season-ending injury in January former Miami guard, Bruce Brown was leading the Hurricanes in assists. Miami Head Coach Jim Larranaga says that Brown’s NBA future is likely as a point guard.

The Pistons future at point guard likely begins with Reggie Jackson. The former Boston College star is owed over $51 Million over the next three seasons. Ish Smith and Dwight Buckys are his backups. Can Bruce Brown become a part of that rotation as a rookie?

Smith is ower $12 million over the next two seasons and Buckys is only guaranteed $748,160.

Could Bruce Brown be the Pistons Point guard of the future? A lot of that might depend on if Detroit can move Jackson and that hefty contract. After playing 79 games in his first full season in Detroit in 2015-16, Jackson has played in only 97 games the last two seasons combined. The chances of moving him are slim.

Detroit was a much better team when Jackson was healthy. Canes Warning’s partner site Pistons Powered examined Jackson’s effect on Detroit’s success when he played this season.

The Pistons second-round selections of Brown and Creighton guard Khyri Thomas made it clear that Detroit is desperate for depth in the backcourt. Do the Pistons plan to play them together in the backcourt? We might find out next month in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Pistons Powered reported that former Duke Star Luke Kennard is also likely to be on Detroit’s summer league roster. Kennard averaged 7.6 points per game as a rookie with the Pistons this past season.

Brown had a solid 1.77 to one assist to turnover ratio with Miami last season. That number was 1.65 to one for his collegiate career. Larranaga didn’t hesitate when discussing Brown’s potential at the point with the Detroit Free Press.

"“The more I observed him and evaluated him, the more I realized his long-term potential is really as a point guard…I think he’s going to be a point guard in the NBA.“He makes good decisions. He can guard all different kinds of positions cause of his size, speed, athletic ability and toughness. I think in the NBA everybody likes to switch, I don’t think he’ll have any problem switching on to a bigger player.He was very good at evaluating his teammates and getting the ball to them in good spots…The lob passes and pocket passes were not there as often from other players as it once was from Bruce.”"

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Grade the Trade: Pacers ditch Bruce Brown for defensive ace in mock deal /

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    • The biggest questions with Brown at the point are his ball handling and shooting ability. In another generation that would not have been as big of an issue at point guard.

    There are still point guards in the NBA that are not great shooters, but it has increasingly become expected of virtually all five players on the court to have the ability to knock down the three.

    Brown made just 26.7 percent of his three-point attempts as a Sophomore. The Boston native shot 31.6 percent from downtown during his career at Miami. Brown did not participate in any of the shooting drills at the NBA combine.

    Brown knows he needs to work on his shooting to become a good NBA Player. He discussed his biggest shorting coming with the Free Press.

    "“The most important thing I need to work on is shooting the ball from three, off the dribble and catch and shoot.”"

    Next: How to watch Miami basketball alums in NBA Summer League

    Brown did not perform well in the speed drills at the combine. The only agility drill which Brown placed in the top ten was the standing vertical leap. Brown lept 32.5 inches top finish ninth among the competitors. With over three months remaining until the start of the preseason Brown has a lot of time to improve his shooting.

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