Spurs to workout former Bobcat Derrick Brown

Written by Michael A. De Leon on .

Derrick BrownAnother former Charlotte Bobcat could be on his way to joining Boris Diaw in San Antonio Spurs training camp.

Unfortunately for Spurs fans and a majority of the Project Spurs staff, that player is not Tyrus Thomas.

Instead, the Spurs are scheduled to be working out Bobcats 2009 second round pick and small forward Derrick Brown, according to csnnw.com.

According to the article, Brown's agent has also scheduled workouts for his client with Atlanta and Brooklyn. While Brown could impress enough to earn an invite to training camp, the Spurs really don't need the services of another swingman since they have players at both shooting guard and small forward that leave no pressing need.

As has been stated many times over here, the Spurs have only one key are that needs to be improved, and that's the front line. Unless someone finds the fountain of youth, I can't see any other area where they have glaring weaknesses.

That's not to say Brown couldn't help a team. He's still got some upside, is athletic, has worked to improve his shot outside and can fool defenders with his quickness. Last season, Brown averaged 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in just over 20 minutes per game.

The one thing that has hurt Brown is that he's very much a hybrid forward and likes to play inside, but doesn't have the size or frame to push anyone around down low. As I mentioned, he is quick enough and athletic enough to play small forward, but his offense is a little limited. He lacks a go-to move aside from trying to inside if nothing else is working.

If anything, he'd be great for the Toros, but I'm sure an NBA team with a need at the position might snatch him up, and he'd likely go overseas before he'd go the D-League route,

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aespurs
aespurs

the spurs arent really looking for frontcourt players as in pf/c, imo. from all the reports it seems like the spurs are just trying to find guys who are more combo forwards or stretch 4s to space the floor. i think the spurs are satisfied with one main big buy in the middle cause in all honesty thats how the nba is now. if the spurs do take a chance on blatche, hed either be replacing splitter or 3rd center, unless his outside jumper is consistent the entire season and he has the footspeed to keep up with smaler 4s. the nba has changed to a faster, perimeter oriented game and two big guys is good if one of them has the lateral quickness to defend the perimeter (why do you think timmeh was so effective even when other teams went small). but 7 footers or even guys 6'10 like that dont grow on trees. so the spurs are going to the next best thing which is versatile forwards who can rebound but also run the floor and defend the perimeter while also helping as much as possible on the inside. this is why reports keep coming out about guys like brown and wilkerson. my conclusion? dont be surprised if the spurs take a chance on a guy that was a pf in college that all these nba teams tried to change into sf cause of their "size". a lot of nba teams are making this mistake when in actuality these types of players could be matchup nightmares if used correctly (for an example see michael beasely) 

mdeleon
mdeleon like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @aespurs Good points. The stretch four has worked for them in the past with Horry and maybe we'll see more of that with Diaw this season.

aespurs
aespurs

 @mdeleon  @aespurs yeah i think thats where theyre heading but for more of a replacement for blair/bonner, not really a starter or anything. im pretty sure if diaw can keep up his play and hit consistently fromt the perimeter that hes gona be our starting "center" all season

Spursfan66
Spursfan66 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @aespurs Blatche is a PF, and seems more likely to be a blair replacement since there have been many reports about him being on block and none about splitter.

 

More likely imo that spurs consider jax' expiring contract trade-worthy over Splitter, thus are looking at b/u SF. Or maybe its just a smokescreen

Emicris
Emicris like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Spursfan66  @aespurs

 Yeah, I agree. If the Spurs do sign Blatche, he would be replacing Blair, not Splitter.

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