Brooklyn Nets: Frank Mason III a potential second round draft steal
University of Kansas point guard Frank Mason III certainly impressed at the NBA Draft Combine. Mason III is looking to impress clubs as we get closer toward the 2017 NBA Draft and could be a second round steal for the Brooklyn Nets.
With just a little over two weeks until college basketball’s best young talent gathers at Barclays Center for the 2017 NBA Draft, teams are finalizing their individual workout schedules, and putting together their internal mock drafts.
As Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks works with his staff to identify their targets in the draft, one second round option for the club may be 23-year-old University of Kansas guard Frank Mason III.
Mason III, a 6’0″ point guard, is currently listed at No. 48 in Draft Express’ latest mock draft, just nine spots ahead of where the Nets are currently slotted to select at 57th overall. Julian Applebome of Draft Express had this to say after watching the Jayhawk point guard at the NBA Draft Combine:
"“Frank Mason III played well during the five on five portion of the Combine and also posted an impressive 41 max vertical leap (fourth best, 97th percentile historically), and 34 standing vertical (seventh best, 96th percentile historically).“Mason III measured at just 6’0” with shoes on, so the positive athletic testing is a good sign for him. Mason’s physical tools are very similar to those of Chicago Bulls guard Isaiah Canaan who also measured in at 6’0 with shoes on, weighed in at 188 pounds (Mason weighed in at 189) and posted a 40.5 max vertical jump.”"
For this year’s 31-5 Kansas Jayhawks team, Mason III averaged 20.9 points and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 47.1 percent from deep. Mason III also received first team All-American honors and was the winner of the Wooden Award.
While Mason is projected as a mid-second round pick, the Nets are not shy about using all available cash to move up in the second round. They did so just last year to acquire Seton Hall point guard and Coney Island native Isaiah Whitehead with the 42nd overall pick in a deal with the Utah Jazz.
While Nets are pretty tight-lipped about releasing name of those who attend individual workouts, various reports have confirmed that Frank Mason III is among a few sharp-shooters scheduled to workout at the HSS Training Center in Brooklyn this week.
With the introduction of two-way D-League players, the Nets are searching every nook and cranny for steals in this draft. They’ll also be looking at possibilities for NBA Summer League players, as the Nets will participate in the Las Vegas Summer League from July 7-17.
Despite some “depth” at the position with incoming second year point guard Isaiah Whitehead, current starter Jeremy Lin, and non-guaranteed Colorado product Spencer Dinwiddie, the Nets are looking for dynamic playmakers that can shoot the ball.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson made it a priority to develop a system that produces open three-pointers. The Nets, despite taking the fourth-most three-point field goals, finished 26th in three-point percentage.
Next: 2017 NBA Mock Draft: Post-Lottery edition
Frank Mason III may be a flier worth taking for the Nets, who will be in search for steals after the conclusion of the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft.