Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is all about defense (and excitement)

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson didn't leave Barclays Center until 1 a.m. Friday morning. It took that long for the Nets and Trail Blazers to complete the trade that sent him and Steve Blake to Brooklyn for Mason Plumlee and Pat Connaughton to Portland. The team even had to hold the bus for him.

But he was oh, so excited, offering up an impromptu rap. "Look out Brooklyn, here I come," he said. "You can’t hide, you can’t run, I’m coming, baby!"

That kind of energy, not to mention sartorial risk taking (red and white plaid pants), would be welcome on a team that has been, to be kind, boring.

As Tim Bontemps writes Sunday, he could be the missing element, an athletic, defensive-minded swingman with some flair.  Billy King said simply, "I thought he was the best defender in the draft."  This highlight video from Arizona gives you an idea why Brooklyn's GM thinks so.

He's not perfect. If his offense was anything other than "limited" he'd have been a lottery pick, instead of having to wait another nine spots for his name to be called. He admits that his shooting --20 percent from three-- is his biggest weakness ... "100 percent."

Bobby Marks told ESPN Radio's Robyn Lundberg that RHJ "is a 6'7" wing and wings are premium in the league. He can defend, but his offense is very limited right now. it will take a while. He is long. He has a great personality."

Where does he fit? He might take some of Alan Anderson's minutes if Anderson leaves, but as of Sunday afternoon, it appears he has not opted out, as he said he would back in May. Anderson, of course, can shoot, making himself a 3-and-D player.

It wouldn't surprise if Hollis-Jefferson developed a shot himself. Fifteen years ago, an athletic, defensive-minded 6'7" swingman out of Arizona joined the Nets as the result of a Draft Nigh deal with a Western conference team. Richard Jefferson hit only 19 three pointers his first two years as a Net, shooting 23.8 percent of his shots.Now, RJ is a three point specialist, with a career mark of 38 percent ... and 912 makes.

Could RHJ match RJ, his fellow Wildcat? It's early, but here's something to consider. It appears that RHJ has chosen No. 24, RJ's old number.

• The missing element Hollis-Jefferson gives the Nets - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson isn't hiding his personality: "Look out Brooklyn, here I come!" - Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game