In this week's Off-Season Report, we look at how the Nets community efforts are attracting a fan base: where the Nets might find a willing seller on Draft Night; an unlikely draft "sleeper"; who will make up Brooklyn's first pro team in 50+ years; how Mikhail Prokhorov has nearly doubled the value of his investment in the Nets and Barclays Center. in two years; Jay-Z's new and expanded role, etc.
John Schuhmann gets the job of analyzing the Nets draft picture for NBA.com. It's not news that the Nets might buy a pick to get into the first round --they have $3 million if they want-- but Schuhmann says look for a trade that might produce a veteran as well as, or even in place of, a draft pick.
Two 6'7" combo guards have dominated the first two days of Adidas EuroCamp in Treviso, Italy, this weekend, with one re-establishing his first round potential and the other possibly moving up on scouts' lists.
Danko Cvjeticanin, the Nets international scout, will be entertaining several members of the Nets brain trust this weekend in the town of Treviso, Italy, where the annual Adidas EuroCamp is being held. Unlike recent years, however, there are few top prospects among the 75 players gathered in the suburb of Venice.
While calling it a "nice story," a league source tells NetsDaily that reports out of Chicago that the Nets will work out long time Nets fan Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are "not true ... We are not working out MKG."
The NBA Draft Combine ended Friday with the release of measurements for all 60 players who attended. Most of the big names were there only for measurements and interviews. For the Nets, who still only have the #57 pick but are looking, the Combine was still valuable said Bobby Marks. It's all about building a database, or as he called it a "library."
What's this about? Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will work out for the Cavaliers, Bobcats, Wizards, Trail Blazers --all top five picks-- and the Nets, who as of now has the #57 pick. Word from Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer is that MKG is traveling to New Jersey out of loyalty: the West Orange native has long been a Nets fan, like his pal, Kyrie Irving.
How high do the Nets think they will be able to go in the Draft on June 28? Sounds like late teens, early 20's. On Wednesday, they were one of four teams who interviewed Kentucky guard Marquis Teague, who is likely mid-first round pick. The others were Miami, Philadelphia and Milwaukee. Teague is the brother of Jeff Teague, the Hawks guard.
In an interview at the Pre-Draft Combine in Chicago Thursday, Avery Johnson reiterated what Billy King has said publicly and other team insiders have said privately: that the Nets intend to add a first round pick to go with the pick they have at #57.
They may only have the #57 pick and recently lost out on a top three pick, but the Nets front office is all-in on the Pre-Draft Combine in Chicago. Makes you think they're planning on making a pick a lot earlier than deep in the second round.
