Kendall Brown Draft Scouting Report: Pro Comparison, Updated Pacers Roster
The Indiana Pacers took a chance on some upside Thursday and selected Baylor swingman Kendall Brown with the No. 48 overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report
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Player: Kendall Brown
Position: SF
Height: 6'6"
Pro Comparison: Josh Green
Scouting Report: Brown won't offer creation or shooting, but there won't be many NBA forwards around 6'6" who are more explosive. He'll use his speed and athleticism for easy baskets while he continues to build on passing and defensive flashes.
Bennedict Mathurin, SG: rookie scale contract
Andrew Nembhard, G: rookie scale contract
Kendall Brown, SF: rookie scale contract
Buddy Hield, SG: $23.5M (2024)
Malcolm Brogdon, PG: $22.5M (2025)
Myler Turner, C: $20M (2023)
T.J. McConnell, PG: $8.4M (2025)
Tyrese Haliburton, PG: $4.5M (2024)
Chris Duarte, SG: $4.4M (2025)
Goga Bitadze, C: $3.3M (2023)
Isaiah Jackson, PF: $3M (2025)
Duane Washington, Jr., PG: $1.4M (2024)
Terry Taylor, G: $1.3M (2024)
Oshae Brissett, SF: $1.2M (2023, Team Option)
Ricky Rubio, PG: UFA
T.J. Warren, SF: UFA
Jalen Smith, PF: UFA
Lance Stephenson, SG: UFA
Nate Hinton, SG: RFA
Gabe York, SG: RFA
Expectations were sky-high for Brown when he arrived at Baylor as a 5-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
While the 19-year-old didn't put up All-American numbers, he was a Big 12 All-Freshman selection who averaged 9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 58.4 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from three-point range.
Brown projects as a matchup problem at his size with the ability to handle the ball, defend multiple positions and cut to the basket from the wing.
His athleticism will also help him finish at the rim, get out in transition and stay with some of the quicker guards he may be asked to defend. But the Pacers may ask him to shoot more than the 1.2 three-point attempts he averaged per game in his one collegiate season if he is going to fully live up to his potential.
For now, Brown is a high-ceiling playmaker who could see a significant role in Indiana's rotation.
