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Phoenix Suns Reportedly Work Out Swingman Gilbert Brown


By Seth Pollack - Regional Sports Editor

The Phoenix Suns will reportedly workout 6-6 shooting guard / small forward Gilbert Brown, an undrafted rookie out of Pitt.

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Dec 27, 2011 - According to a report by Wendell Maxy of Beyond the Beat, 6-6 swingman free agent Gilbert Brown is in Phoenix and will work out with the Suns. Brown, 24, was in training camp with the Boston Celtics as an undrafted free agent before being cut.

Brown played five years with the Pitt Panthers and averaged 11.3 points, 4.4 rebonds and 2.7 assists while shooting 45.8 percent from the field his senior year.

The Phoenix Suns haven't yet responded to a request for confirmation and Brown's agent declined to confirm or deny the report today.

Brown seems to think he was impressive when he worked out for the Suns before the draft.

"Hands down, I was the best player at every workout I had," Brown told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in June. "The one workout in Phoenix had Jordan Hamilton (selected 26th by the Mavericks) and Klay Thompson (selected 11th by the Warriors). I hit all of my shots, and no one could score on me. It was one of the best displays of my ability. A lot of people only had me as a defender and an athlete coming into the draft, but at these workouts I was able to show that I could do a lot more than what I did at Pitt. I showed I was able to score the basketball, and I was able to show them that I was an even better defender than what I showed in college."

It's not readily apparent why the Suns would need to add depth at shooting guard.

This story is still developing and subject to change

Gilbert Brown emerged as a legitimate NBA prospect after a solid junior season and he has continued to play a vital role for Pittsburgh Panthers as a senior.

At 6'6 with a long, 200-pound frame, Brown looks the part of an NBA player. He is a good athlete, as well, both explosive around the basket and quick in the open floor.

While Brown was never a particularly productive player to begin with, his scoring rate and shooting percentages have both decreased during his senior season as his minutes have risen, to the tune of 16.7 points per 40 minutes pace adjusted on 44.6% FG.

Brown plays a complimentary role on one of the most efficient offenses in college basketball, where over one-third of his offensive possessions are created for him in the form of spot-up opportunities. He has shown marked improvement as a shooter, shooting a a career-high 40.2% from beyond the arc on nearly five attempts per 40 minutes pace adjusted. His mechanics remain awkward and he is still most effective shooting with his feet set, but he has improved consistently throughout his collegiate career and he definitely has potential to play a role with his spot-up perimeter shooting ability at the next level.

Brown has not developed his shot-creating ability very much this season, something he likely won't be expected to do much of in the NBA. He's getting to the free throw line a bit less this season, and is not very efficient operating inside the arc. Just an average ball-handler at best, he tends to settle for mid-range jumpers in lieu of attacking the rim, which has caused his 2-point conversion rate to drop from 54% to 49% this season.

Though he is limited as a scorer at the collegiate level, Brown compensates by displaying excellent intangibles on the offensive end. He is a willing passer and teammate, exemplified by his career-high 1.60-assist/turnover ratio. Furthermore, he knows his limitations as a player and he rarely forces anything on the offensive end.

He is equally steady on defense, confirming his reputation as one of the most effective and versatile defenders at the collegiate level. He is a very good one-on-one defender and his quick hands, length, and excellent lateral quickness allow him to stay in front all but the quickest collegiate guards. With his ideal physical tools, toughness and college pedigree, there is no doubt that he has the potential to develop into an elite defender a the next level.

Though he will be 24-years-old by the start of the NBA season and there are question marks regarding whether he can consistently make NBA three-pointers with his awkward mechanics, Brown remains an intriguing prospect whose niche as a pro is already well-established. His intangibles and defensive abilities will certainly translate to the next level and, if he can continue to distinguish himself as a reliable spot-up shooter during the NCAA Tournament and Pre-Draft process, then there is a good possibility that he will find himself on a NBA team.

sunsfan88 wrote:Oh thank god!!!

Right when I saw "Suns reportedly work out Gilbert" I thought the next word was going to be Arenas....