Brooklyn Nets: 2018 NBA Draft grades
By Alec Liebsch
No. 29: Dzanan Musa, Bosnia and Herzegovina
With the 29th overall pick, the Nets selected wing Dzanan Musa of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He played for KK Cedevita of Croatia as a 6’9″ wing, which seems to be the archetype of the player every NBA team needs. His slippery scoring tendencies translate from day one in the NBA, as will his microwave catch-and-shoot capabilities.
He has an NBA buyout path of about $1 million, should the Nets look to bring him over. If not, he can refine his frail body and chucker tendencies. According to ESPN‘s Jonathan Givony, he is likely to take the fast track to the NBA:
The Nets take Dzanan Musa. I'm told he would have been taken much higher had he agreed to be stashed in Europe next year, but his insistence on coming to the NBA right away caused him to slip a bit. I like this pick for the Nets. Musa gets buckets, is competitive and super young.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 22, 2018
Musa was one of the primary options for KK Cedevita, despite being only 19 years old. This caused him to take quite a few inefficient shots, and deplete his efficiency. In a more refined system, Musa could be quite the bucket-getter. In my article about the Nets’ options at No. 29, I included him, and elaborated on his attributes.
He showcased a myriad of facets to his offensive game at KK Cedevita, not only as an off-the-dribble scorer, but also as a catch-and-shoot maestro.
In an offense like coach Kenny Atkinson’s, that’s quite an illustrious fit. Musa has the scoring tendencies of a first option, with the potential to get hot within a system. His rail-thin frame is far from ideal at the NBA level, which ignites concerns over his defensive capabilities, but it is also a workable flaw. With proper training, his athletic tendencies and body type can turn him into one of the steals of the draft.
Grade: B+