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From Undrafted to the Laker Rotation, Jabari Brown Signs Through Next Year

By Ron Davis

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Former Missouri Tiger and All-SEC player Jabari Brown signed with the Los Angeles Lakers through the 2015-2016 season on Wednesday. The team decided to part ways and waive Steve Nash, a two-time league MVP, to make room for Brown.

Brown was called up from the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the Lakers’ D-League squad, after averaging 24.4 points per game, which ranked first in the whole league during his time there. He signed a ten-day contract and impressed head coach Byron Scott enough to give him a second ten-day contract.

After Monday nights’ game when Brown had a career-high 22 points against the 76ers, the Lakers management made the move to cut Nash, and sign Brown for the rest of this season, and through next season.

Per the LA Times, Brown will make around $900,000 next season and the contract is nonguaranteed.  That’s pretty good for an undrafted rookie who escaped the abyss of the NBA D-League.

In additon to his individual success, Brown is probably enjoying it even more with fellow rookie and teammate at Mizzou Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson has been more than a steady presence as the starting point guard and is making a case for the All-Rookie team.

Mar 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jabari Brown (15) goes up for a shot defended by Atlanta Hawks forward Elton Brand (bottom) during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

It has to be said that the Lakers are not moving in the right direction, and their 20-54 record is attributed to it. It is actually in their best interest to lose as much as possible down the stretch to ensure they’ll have a top-five draft pick, because if their pick winds up outside the top-five, it goes to the Phoenix Suns as part of the Nash trade.

At the same time it gave Clarkson an opportunity to start and now Brown an opportunity to showcase his talents. Would Brown have been signed through next year if he were on a playoff team? Probably not, but nevertheless it ensures him another year in Los Angeles, and a full-year of an NBA paycheck.

Since he was called up on March 11th, Brown has been averaging 9.1 points per game, and 25 minutes per game. In the Lakers win over the 76ers, Brown played 30 minutes, which was second on the team behind Clarkson. Brown hasn’t been your typical undrafted-d-league-ten-day-contract type of rookie, he’s been a contributor since he’s arrived.

The Lakers are planning to have a massive overhaul of their roster beginning next season, and despite earning another year from the team, Brown still has a lot to prove over the final eight games. Lakers management doesn’t want the team to win, but will still be evaluating on who to keep on the team for the rebuilt roster.

Clarkson and Brown have shown flashes to suggest that they should be an integral part of the Lakers future, but there is still a long way to go for both of them.

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