Brooklyn Nets: 2018 NBA Draft prospects to watch this weekend
By Alec Liebsch
After a hectic first weekend of the 2018 NCAA Tournament, it’s important to outline which players from the remaining 16 teams the Brooklyn Nets could conceivably select.
Although the Brooklyn Nets do not have their own first round pick, they possess the Toronto Raptors’ first. It will be at the back end due to Toronto’s success, but that doesn’t mean the pick isn’t valuable.
Plenty of quality prospects have the potential to fall to this selection. I previously outlined the types of players who could fall to this selection, and players of these archetypes survived the first weekend of the tournament.
Additionally, the Nets also possess three second round picks for 2018, two of which are protected in the back end of the draft. In other words, they will only convey if they are in the earlier range of the second round.
With these conditions in mind, here are some bang-for-buck prospects who could plummet down other teams’ boards, organized by bracket region.
South
Easily the most chaotic region so far, the top four seeds from the South have already been booted. The favorite to survive is now Kentucky, a team perpetually loaded with draft prospects.
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The two best Wildcats will not fall past the top 20, but several under-the-radar prospects permeate UK’s rotation.
One of these prospects is Wenyen Gabriel. A model stretch-4 for Kentucky (40.3 percent from downtown), Gabriel has shown a high motor and strong finishing ability. His potential as a small-ball 5 is quite enticing for when Jarrett Allen takes a seat, and his athleticism makes him a viable defensive partner next to Allen as a 4.
Another upside-laden prospect is a wing named Hamidou Diallo. A slasher with awesome athleticism, Diallo’s main concerns are typical for raw players. His shot (34.2 percent from 3-point range) needs work, although his passing ability as a complement (1.3 assists per game off the bench) is noteworthy. With a capable shot, Diallo can fit the 3-and-D role that every team needs.
Both these prospects have quite volatile draft ranges, so it’s anyone’s guess where they will fall. The rest of the South region is full of upperclassmen-led squads, so Brooklyn is unlikely to take a look at players from those teams.
West
The top two seeds in the wild, wild West have already been ousted, so the prospect depth here is thin as well.
Gonzaga has an enticing stretch-big player in Killian Tillie, who is converting on 47.9 percent of his 3-point shots. It’s no secret that the Nets run a shooter-heavy attack, so Tillie could slide right into the rotation. His draft range is early-mid second round, meaning the Nets can pounce on him if he falls to one of their seconds.
Michigan has its own stretch-big prospect in Moritz Wagner. A sniper from Germany, Wagner is ripping twine on 40.3 percent of his 4.0 3-point attempts per game. His draft range is quite volatile, but he will only be a value pick if he falls to the second round.
Saving the best prospect for last in the West is Texas A&M, which deploys a destructively athletic big by the name of Robert Williams. His physicality makes him a fantastic vertical target for lobs, similar to the incumbent franchise center Jarrett Allen. He also protects the rim at an exceptional level, as evidenced by his 2.5 blocks per game.
Selecting Williams might be duplicative when considering Allen, but at the end of the first, he’d be a steal. Value trumps roster construct at that point.
East
This is where the fun really begins. Quite a few high-profile prospects remain in this part of the bracket, all with fluctuating draft stocks.
Villanova has an elite 3-and-D guy in Mikal Bridges, but his point guard is the potential Net draftee. Arguably the best guard in the country besides Trae Young, Jalen Brunson will warrant some late first round looks.
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Averaging 19.3 points per game on 53.5 percent efficiency from the field, Brunson will score his way onto an NBA roster. Although the Nets do not need another point guard, the Houston Rockets have proven that you can never have too many.
Another point guard in the East worth a second round look is Jevon Carter of West Virginia. Arguably the best point guard in the country besides Brunson, Carter will get a chance to prove himself this Friday against Villanova.
Carter is elite defensively as the leader of “Press Virginia,” and his offensive efficiency (55.5 true shooting percentage) bolsters his profile. As a complementary guard, Carter can either run the offense or come off the ball interchangeably.
Texas Tech has a great prospect in Zhaire Smith, but the chances of him falling that far are slim. Following the veteran point guard trend though, they do have a prospect in the Nets’ range. Keenan Evans has shown flashes of exceptional defensive and slashing abilities. His mediocre 32.3 percent 3-point clip will need to improve if he wants to survive in the NBA, however.
Conversely, the fourth team in this region has a guy the Nets could look at with any of their picks. Vince Edwards has made a name for himself as a key cog for the Purdue. Averaging 14.7 points per game (and 40.5 percent on 3s), Edwards will likely be as a stretch-4 specialist because he is only 6’7″.
West
Continuing with the slew of veteran point guards, Kansas deploys a nationally known star in Devonte’ Graham. His 3-point shot (40.4 percent) is excellent for a first option, and he’s one of the five best players in the left in the tournament. He needs to prove he can defend palpably at the next level, but even now he could be worth a late first.
His teammate, wing Lagerald Vick, could commandeer draft pick value as well. His shooting numbers are nothing to write home about at 37.8 percent, but he’s been showcasing his athleticism all season. He has the physical tools to become an exciting 3-and-D wing in the NBA, and the Nets could use plenty of those.
The Cinderella story Syracuse Orange have a prospect by the name of Tyus Battle. Their star guard averages over 19 points per game for a team in desperate need of offense. He does not shoot well from any part of the floor (39.8 percent), but in a more limited role, his burden can be eased. He will warrant debate in the mid-late second round, making him an interesting off-ball option for Brooklyn to consider.
Another ACC guard worth monitoring is Duke Blue Devil Gary Trent Jr. His smooth jumper has translated to a 41.7 percent clip from downtown (and the floor overall) in his freshman season. He will play mostly off-ball in the NBA, making him an interesting role player for the Nets to consider.
Trent Jr.’s teammate, Trevon Duval, is an interesting flier prospect if he falls to the end of the first. His shot mechanics have a hitch, but his speed and slashing ability is tantalizing. He will not survive without a fluid shot, but the framework is there for a potential elite guard. Taking a chance on him might be worth it, especially if Brooklyn thinks Spencer Dinwiddie will leave after next season.
Next: 2017-18 Week 23 NBA Power Rankings
The Nets can go many different ways late in this year’s draft. Nothing is guaranteed in terms of who will get drafted when, but if watching the NCAA Tournament for draft prospects is your thing, then let this be your guide for the weekend.