As the Nets' workout schedule enters its final phase, it's moving just a bit from focusing on big men, defense and the first round to swingmen, offensive firepower and the second round. For the first time this year, teams can work out players in a three-on-three format, permitting GM's and scouts to take longer looks at larger numbers of players for longer amounts of time...and the Nets' workout is getting a reputation as particularly greuling.
By Monday, the Nets will have worked out 48 players, several of them twice: J.J. Hickson of North Carolina State, Marreese Speights of Florida, in particular.
There've already been some interesting matchups: Nevada's JaVale McGee vs. Stanford's Robin Lopez on June 5, Kansas' Brandon Rush vs. Arizona's Chase Budinger on June 6, Syracuse's Donte Green vs. LSU's Anthony Randolph and Hickson vs. Ohio State's Kosta Koufos, both on June 12. On Monday the 16th, Hickson was back, this time to go up against Texas A&M's DeAndre Jordan in a battle of 19-year-old big men. There's an intercontinental battle of big men on Monday, June 23rd, with Australia's Nathan Jawai facing Croatia's Ante Tomic.
Danilo Gallinari had his own private workout on the 12th.
Several agents have told the Nets their clients won't be working out for the team, including Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose and Brook Lopez. Kevin Love initially agreed to work out, then backed out as his draft stock improved.
Here's our list so far, derived mainly from reports by Dave D'Alessandro and Al Iannazzone...as well as the Nets' Draft Central.
Wednesday, June 4:
Washington State guard Derrick Low
North Carolina guard Wayne Ellington (video)
UMass swingman Gary Forbes
Indiana forward DJ White (video)
Kansas forward Darrell Arthur (video)
St. John’s guard Eugene Lawrence
Thursday, June 5:
Nevada shooting guard Marcelus Kemp
Arkansas swingman Sonny Weems
Nevada center JaVale McGee (video)
Stanford center Robin Lopez (video)
FDU guard Manny Ubillia
Friday, June 6:
Tennessee Martin combo guard Lester Hudson (video)
Gonzaga combo guard Jeremy Pargo
Kansas small forward Brandon Rush (video)
Arizona small forward Chase Budinger (video)
Florida power forward Marreese Speights (video)
Memphis center Joey Dorsey
Saturday, June 7:
Washington State swingman Kyle Weaver (video)
Seton Hall guard Brian Laing
Vanderbilt shooting guard Shan Foster (video)
Memphis swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts (video)
French center Alexis Ajinca (video)
California center DeVon Hardin (video)
Thursday, June 12:
Syracuse forward Donte Green (video)
Ohio State center Kosta Koufos (video)
LSU forward Anthony Randolph (video)
Italian forward Danilo Gallinari (video)
NC State forward J. J. Hickson (video)
Kentucky guard Ramel Bradley
Hofstra guard Antoine Agudio
Sunday, June 15
Israeli forward Omri Casspi
North Carolina State forward Gavin Grant
Kansas center Sasha Kaun
Arkansas power forward Darian Townes
Monday, June 16
Texas A&M center DeAndre Jordan (video)
NC State forward J. J. Hickson (video)
Russian power forward Nikita Shabalkin
Kentucky guard Ramel Bradley
Utah State guard Jaycee Carroll
Virginia guard Sean Singletary
Thursday, June 19 (Joint Workout with the 76ers):
California forward Ryan Anderson
Florida power forward Marreese Speights (video)
Louisville center David Padgett
South Florida power forward Kentrell Gransberry
Grand Valley State power forward Callistus Eziukwu
Friday, June 20:
West Virginia forward Joe Alexander (video)
Georgetown center Roy Hibbert (video)
Idaho Stampede guard Mike Taylor
South Florida power forward Kentrell Gransberry
George Washington combo guard Maureece Rice
Monday, June 23:
Australian center Nathan Jawai
Croatian center Ante Tomic
Western Kentucky shooting guard Courtney Lee (video)
New Mexico shooting guard J.R. Giddens
Virginia Tech small forward Deron Washington
Unscheduled
Rider center Jason Thompson (video)