Brooklyn Nets: 2016-17 End Of Season Roundtable
7. The Nets now have secured three picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. If they do in fact stay at this draft position, who do you predict they’ll select with picks 22, 27 and 57?
PW: I will be the first to admit I am not a huge draft follower and with glaring needs to get younger and more athletic across the roster, I don’t believe the “who” is nearly as important to Brooklyn as the “what.” Picking in the lower first round means having to reach for potential long-term upside.
Marks comes from the right background to be able to do that, as San Antonio has made that a hallmark for a generation.
JS: The easy answer here is “the best players available.” With how many holes the Nets have, and the talent deficit, they cannot worry about positions, but must worry about acquiring the most talent possible.
I think “BPA” is risky if you have a foundational talent at a position, because then you need to trade your draftee and you never get fair return value; you would have been better off with a good fit. However, the Nets are not in that spot.
The Nets have to try to find starting caliber pieces at this point in the draft. Upside needs to be a big consideration, although a big risk with one pick should be balanced at the other spot. Harry Giles’ talent may be too tough to pass on despite his lacking body of work.
Andrew Jones, or an international piece, also would not surprise.
BF: They can trade up, too, let’s not forget. But, assuming they stand pat, I don’t think they’ll go back-to-back guards like they did last season with LeVert and (Isaiah) Whitehead.
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Everyone has their sleeper guy that they like in the draft, and mine is Bam Adebayo from Kentucky, and he would make sense at 22 or 27.
In that area you’re also looking at guys like Dillon Brooks of Oregon, T.J. Leaf of UCLA, Harry Giles of Duke, Ivan Rabb of Cal and Donovan Mitchell of Louisville; assuming they all sign agents.
JO: Given their significant roster and cap flexibility, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Nets end up with a late lottery pick … or to not make any picks at all.
Instead of giving a few names, I’m going to say we see Marks pull off one surprisingly aggressive move that results in one long-term starter. That player could be a veteran or a rookie.
JG: The Nets don’t have the pressure of winning now, therefore, I am all in favor of them drafting any player(s) with the most upside, regardless of how raw they are or if they’re coming off of injury.
That’s how much confidence I have in this team’s infrastructure and ability to develop talent. I love how the personnel of this team has positional flexibility and I hope they continue to stockpile long, athletic players who can play in multiple roles.
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DB: We need to draft a stretch four, a shot-blocking/rebounding center and either a SG/SF with reliable passing and shooting capabilities. All backups with potential to start in a couple of years, if not sooner.