Brooklyn Nets draft picture brightens just a tiny bit

In the wake of the Jason Kidd deal Monday, we update what the Nets have going forward in the Draft.

First round...

The Nets have first round picks in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020, the furthest year a pick can be traded, and have none from other teams. The picks in 2015 and 2017 can be swapped --to the Hawks in 2015 and the Celtics in 2017. BUT the Nets will have a pick in those two years.

They traded their first round picks --unprotected-- in 2014, 2016 and 2018 to the Celtics.  The first of those chips was cashed last week when the Celtics picked James Young with the Nets first round pick. Unless they can acquire a first round pick in the years they traded to the Celtics, they won't be able to trade their first round picks in 2015 and 2017 under the NBA's Stepien Rule. That rule prohibits teams from trading first round picks in successive years.  Their 2015 and 2017 picks must be swapped ONLY if they're higher than the Hawks (2015) and Celtics (2017) picks.

So if the Nets finish with a higher pick (after the lottery) in 2015, their pick goes to Atlanta and the Hawks' pick goes to the Nets. If the Hawks have a higher pick, the Nets first round pick stays in Brooklyn. So, in either case, the Nets will have a first round pick.  The same is true in 2017, with the Celtics pick. Nets get a higher pick, they give it up to Boston and Nets use the Celtics' pick.  If not, the pick is their own.

Second round...

They have six second round picks in the seven drafts between 2014 through 2020, including the two from the Kidd deal but one is heavily protected and is likely to wind up with Clippers. They could pick one up from the Celtics in 2017, but that's only if they swap first round picks. Also, there are protections favorable to Boston on that one. Here are the details on the second round picks from 2014 through 2020:

--On Draft Night in 2011, the Nets sent their second round pick in 2014 and their 2010 first round pick (Jujaun Johnson) to Boston for MarShon Brooks. After being traded around, that pick became Russ Smith last Thursday.

--In the 2011 Mehmet Okur trade, the Nets sent their second round pick in 2015 to Utah for Okur. This is the pick that went from Utah to Atlanta to Milwaukee in subsequent years, ending up with the Bucks on Draft Night in return for the 48th pick, Lamar Patterson.  (How convenient?).  It's now back in Nets hands.

--In 2012, the Nets agreed to swap second round picks in 2016 with the Clippers in return for Reggie Evans. The Clippers have the option to swap picks with the Nets if the Clippers pick is #31-55. The Nets can still trade the pick if the other team is willing to assume the risk.

--In the 2012 Joe Johnson trade, the Nets sent their second round in 2017 pick to Atlanta. It wasn't included in the original deal but the league required it because of a CBA technicality.

--In the 2013 trade with Boston, the Celtics would send their second round pick in 2017 to the Nets if the two teams swapped first round picks. No first round swap, no second round pick.

--In the 2014 Jason Kidd deal, the Nets received their own pick in 2015 which had been traded around (see above) and the better pick between the Kings and Bucks in the 2019 draft.

Of course, the Nets buy second rounders. In 2011, they spent $1.5 million to acquire Bojan Bogdanovic. In 2012, they bought two: Tyshawn Taylor for $2 million and Toko Shengelia for $750,000. They also were willing to buy the 60th pick that year.  The Nets had traded it away in the Sasha Vujacic deal, but could have re-acquired it in return for $250,000 ... if the Lakers agreed. They did not and took Robert Sacre. In 2014, they spent $1.9 million to acquire three picks: Markel Brown ($1.1 million); Xavier Thames ($500,000) and Cory Jefferson ($300,000)

Said one team insider, "we will always buy second round picks.".

The history...

Prior to the Deron Williams' trade, the Nets hadn't traded any of their own first round picks going back to 1999, preferring to keep their picks and trade those acquired from other teams. Under Billy King, they traded their own first rounders in 2011 and 2012 to acquire Williams and Gerald Wallace, then traded their own first rounders in 2014, 2016 and 2018 to acquire Pierce and Garnett.

The Nets picks traded away since 2010 have yielded Enes Kanter, Damian Lillard, Darius Morris, Gorgui Dieng, Draymond Green, Shane Larkin, James Young and Russ Smith. In return, they have received Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace, Joe Johnson, Troy Murphy, Brandan Wright and MarShon Brooks.