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Nets Select Tyshawn Taylor at #41; Toko Shengalia of Georgia at #54; Ilkan Karaman of Turkey at #57

By Net Income Updated
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After failing to acquire a first round pick, the Nets purchased two picks and kept their own second round pick, ending up with Tyshawn Taylor, the Kansas point guard, at #41,and two European big men. Taylor and Toko Shengelia of Georgia were acquired in a straight cash deals with the Trail Blazers and the 76ers and Ilkan Karaman of Turkey was selected with the #57 which the Nets had entering the second round.

Taylor (video) played high school ball at St. Anthony in Jersey City and is the only one of three likely to play in the NBA this season. He is known for his quickness and solid defense. The 6'3" 22-year-old averaged 16.6 points, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals as a senior. He was Third Team All America and All Big 12 First Team. The major criticism of Taylor is that he is undisciplined but he did help the Jayhawks to the NCAA championship game.

The Nets of course traded their first round pick to the Blazers for Gerald Wallace. Ironically, if the Nets had retained the #6 pick, league sources said the Nets would have taken Taylor's teammate, Thomas Robinson. Billy King said the Nets were prepared to move up into the first round but teams wanted draft picks rather than cash and he considered the price too high.

Later, the Nets purchased the #54 pick from the 76ers and took Tornike "Toko" Shengelia (video) from the Republic of Georgia, a 6'10" power forward. Shengelia plays for Belgacom Spirou in the Belgian League. Finally with the 57th pick, obtained from the Heat two years ago, the Nets selected Ilkan Karaman (video), also 6'10", played for Pınar Karşıyaka in the Turkish League. Both will play in Europe next season.

Shengelia has been a member of the Republic of Georgia’s National Team since 2008. He averaged 8.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 18.4 minutes in 20 Belgium League games and helped his team qualify for Euroleague play. In the Euroleague, he posted 8.3 points and 4.3 rebounds during nine games. Shengelia represented the Republic of Georgia at 2011 Eurobasket, averaging 8.8 points and 4.6 boards for the Senior National Team where he was teamed with Zaza Pachulia, who sat next to him at the Draft.

Karaman is from Istanbul, Turkey and played for Galatasaray and Pinar Karşıyaka of the Turkish League. He averaged 10.7 points and 6.4 rebounds in 23 minutes per game. When Billy King flew to Turkey during the lockout to watch Deron Williams play, he saw Karaman put up 13 points on 6 for 8 shooting and grab 8 rebounds.

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