As the Brooklyn Nets looks to build off a surprising playoff appearance, which prospects are the best fit for them to take with the 27th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft?
The Brooklyn Nets shocked most of the NBA world by winning 42 games in 2018-19, en route to their first playoff appearance in four years. Growth from young players such as D’Angelo Russell, Jarrett Allen and a post-injury Caris LeVert was especially encouraging.
After a recent trade with the the Atlanta Hawks, where general manager Sean Marks flipped draft picks and Allen Crabbe for Taurean Prince, Brooklyn now has roughy $68 million in cap space to spend this summer.
Kyrie Irving is heavily rumored to be the Nets’ top target and they must make a decision on Russell, who is set to be a restricted free agent. Whether Brooklyn pairs Irving and Russell together, or adds just one of those guards with another max free agent, most of its cap space will be spent on two players.
This makes their selection at the end of the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft vitally important. With less cap space to spend on role payers and having already lost a future first-rounder in the aforementioned Hawks trade, Marks must nail this pick.
Fortunately for the Nets, there will be a lot of high quality options for them at No. 27 overall, especially if they are looking to fill an immediate need as they enter win-now mode. Here will we take a look at some of the best choices the Nets can make with their first round selection next week.