Trail Blazers Trade with Pelicans, Draft Greg Brown from Texas

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired the 43rd pick in the 2021 NBA Draft from the New Orleans Hornets, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. They will reportedly receive Greg Brown, a 6’8 combo forward from the University of Texas.

Andrew Lopez of ESPN says the price was a future second-round pick.

Brown played one year at Texas, averaging 9.3 points and 6.2 rebounds on 42% shooting from the floor, 33% from the three-point arc. Per Evan Tomes of nbadraft.net, he is known for his athleticism.

Brown is a freak athlete with a great deal of explosiveness … Has lot of bounce giving him a lot of intrigue if his game can catch up with his athleticism… He translates right away as an athletic, lockdown combo forward with the potential to develop as an offensive player … Attacks the rim with ferocity and a quick first step … Lockdown defender with a defensive rating of 92.1 … 71% FT is respectable for a forward who still needs to refine his jump shot … Great rebounder (12.1 rebounds per 40 minutes) who can elevate with anyone on the court … Versatile defender who can guard most positions effectively...

The site tabs offense as a weakness, plus lapses in concentration and foul trouble. They term Brown a “high-risk, high-reward player”.

Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo echoes the thought, tabbing Brown as a potential late-bloomer still worth a look.

Brown’s draft stock has taken a hit after a subpar showing at the combine, and the appeal of his athletic gifts has taken a backseat to concerns about his feel, and the fact he’s not especially close to contributing in the NBA. He still deserves to be drafted, and the success of players in his mold like Jerami Grant and Derrick Jones—both of whom were late bloomers—leaves room for optimism. He has potential to be a competent shooter, and his tools are hard to find. But Brown may require multiple years in the G League before getting a real cup of coffee in the NBA.

Portland was formerly without a selection, having traded away both their first- and second-round picks for the year.

Update 9:30 PM, Pacific:

Jason Quick of The Athletic reports that the Blazers traded a 2026 second-rounder and cash to New Orleans to acquire Brown.