Brooklyn Nets: 4 options with the 19th pick in the NBA Draft
The Brooklyn Nets were swept in the 1st round of the playoffs, but there’s reason for optimism going forward. Who should the team target in the NBA Draft?
The NBA offseason is only in its infancy, but the Brooklyn Nets could be back on the court as early as December 22nd. First, however, is the NBA Draft on November 18th (free agency to begin shortly after). Trading for Taurean Prince deprived the Nets of their own first-round pick this year, but the team has the rights to the Philadelphia 76ers’ No. 19 pick due to a draft-night trade in 2019 and they also have No. 55 in second round. What type of player should the team be targeting?
Draft motivations
With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving both returning from injury (played zero and 20 games respectively last season), the Nets could conceivably go from a seven-seed to a title contender (fifth-best title odds per The Action Network). Brooklyn is in “win-now mode”, so it makes sense to consider prospects that could contribute as soon as next season (target list will be constructed with primarily this in mind). That said, this caliber of player might be in limited supply at No. 19, so a lot of other motivations could come into play.
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The front office might trade the pick, target a developmental prospect or simply choose the best player available regardless of team need. Additionally, depending on how free agency plays out, the Nets might not have much room on the roster for their draft pick. Spending time in the G League or abroad via draft-and-stash might be best for the player’s development.
Lack of clarity on next season’s roster
If free agency took place before the draft, the Nets would have a much clearer picture of the final roster. Given that it comes after, however, the front office will have to forecast the results of free agency as it assesses team needs.
Brooklyn currently has 11 players under contract for next season: Durant, Irving, Caris LeVert, Taurean Prince, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan, Jarrett Allen, Dzanan Musa, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Rodions Kurucs and Nic Claxton. Joe Harris is the team’s key free agent (unrestricted), but Garrett Temple (team option), Chris Chiozza (restricted) and Wilson Chandler (unrestricted) are among other players entering free agency.
Re-signing Harris seems to be a priority for the front office, but in order to do so, his $8 million per year contract will likely have to be bumped up to the $12-15 million range. Given Harris’s prowess as a 3-point shooter (42.4 percent last season), Brooklyn will surely have some competition from other teams.
Free agency isn’t the only factor that could shake up the team’s roster, however. The Nets have been involved in a variety of trade rumors, the majority revolving around one central, lingering question: “Can Caris LeVert be the third star?” LeVert, along with Spencer Dinwiddie and Jarrett Allen, have been involved in trade speculation for players like Bradley Beal, Jrue Holiday and Demar Derozan.
Overall, it’s difficult to forecast team needs without knowing how both free agency and the trade market will play out, but Brooklyn’s front office will have to give it their best shot. Which prospects will be available at No.19, and what type of player should the front office be keying in on?