Could Jaylen Brown Start for the Boston Celtics?

Looking into whether or not Jaylen Brown has a chance with the starting unit this season

Now that the Boston Celtics have rescinded their qualifying offer to Jared Sullinger, the team’s options for who is going to start alongside Al Horford in the front court is dwindling. The Celtics dealt with a lot of clutter last year and that problem may not be behind them. Right now, Amir Johnson would have to be the favourite. Jordan Mickey may have an outside chance if he makes a lot of progress this offseason, and Jonas Jerebko could sneak his way in if others are struggling.

There is also one other options that would help contribute to the small ball revolution that is taking over, Jaylen Brown. Brown would not start at the 4, but some of the Celtics’ most successful lineups last year featured Jae Crowder at the 4, and that would open up room for Brown at the 3.

The Celtics normally moved Crowder to the 4 to accommodate their three guard lineups, but that was largely due to Evan Turner‘s ability to play the 3. With similar size and similar ability to be a standout defensive player, Stevens should at least consider starting the rookie, barring any huge set backs this offseason.

The advantage of inserting Brown into the starting lineup is it allows the Celtics to play their fast paced small ball lineup, without sacrificing defense, while having an opportunity to rebound better than they did last year.

Brown has had an inconsistent start to this offseason. His finishing ability is clearly a big work in progress and he has not done a lot as a play maker. That being said, one thing remains absolutely clear, he is a physical freak. Seeing another offensive liability on the court for the Celtics may be maddening, but the Celtics have shown a tendency to play defensive standouts that are disastrous on the offensive end and Brown could follow a similar route that Marcus Smart took in his rookie season.

The state of the Celtics is different but it did not take Smart long  to take over a crucial role, despite being a glaring liability on the offensive end, and Brown could have a similar outlook this season. Even if he never gets a chance to start, Stevens will certainly see what they are capable of doing with him in those smaller lineups.

If playing Brown meant taking a key player out of the starting lineup, then it would not be wise. Johnson was a serviceable player last season, but with all the uncertainty about whether or not he would be on the team this season, the Celtics clearly do not overvalue his impact. The Celtics kept Johnson, but a lot of that may be for the security and depth he provides to a front court that is quickly changing. The Celtics saw what happened with an unbearably chaotic front court last year and Johnson can help avoid that this year.

With Johnson’s limited ability on the offensive end, the Celtics may be more inclined to give Brown a role strictly because of his defense. Brown will need to prove that his physical advantages will serve him well on the defensive end in the NBA, but if he can do that the defensive intrigue of him playing alongside Crowder and Horford may be too appealing. Celtics fans have dreamed of what their defense would look like if the front court finally caught up to the back court, and Brown can help bring that balance.

Johnson may offer more size and a bigger presence in the paint, but Brown has much better potential as an on ball defender, and could help pick up some of Crowder’s responsibility in guarding the best athletes on the court.

At this point, it is unrealistic to imagine Brown being the opening day starter. By brining back Johnson he became the clear favourite to return to his role as a starter. However,  the intrigue of Brown will always be there and the appeal of that defensive small ball lineup will certainly be looked at by Stevens.

It will be difficult for Terry Rozier to take over the role Turner played in small ball lineups at the 3 because of how much small he is, but Brown fits that mould perfectly. Rozier is expected to take over Turner’s responsibilities with the second unit, but depending on how much Stevens wants to play Crowder at the 4, Brown is the best option on the team to play the 3 in those situations.

Brown has a long ways to go but with the Celtics’ emphasis on players that are NBA ready physically, they found the best case scenario with Brown, as long as he is not too much of a liability on the offensive end.

The number one thing that may work in Brown’s favor is that the Celtics have proven that they are willing to make up for offensive liabilities on the court, for the sake of standout defensive players. Perhaps more so than any other team, the Celtics’ offense depended greatly on their defense. Turnovers allowed them to push the pace and get the opportunities they need, and Brown can help in that area more than any other potential front court options. He also plays with the aggressiveness that was essential to the Celtics’ success a season ago.

Next: Celtics Make Sullinger Unrestricted FA

Physical tools are one of the main reasons the Celtics selected Brown with the third overall pick and that will ensure that he at least has some sort of role with the second unit. If no more roster additions are made, and the front court they currently have is the front court they will keep for the regular season, then the intrigue of starting their prized draft pick may be too much to pass up.