DRAFT WATCH No. 9 - Some news with a week to go

Back in October and November, it became clear that the Nets liked Chandler Hutchison of Boise State, a 6’7” senior swingman with a scorer’s mentality. Nets scouts showed up at his games and the Broncos’ scrimmage, according to local media. Then, after he left the Draft Combine and cancelled all his individual workouts, NBADraft.net reported he had a “promise,” saying the Bulls would take him at No. 22.

However, on Thursday, Jonathan Givony of ESPN said Hutchison has a “promise,” but not with the Bulls at No. 22. “Teams are increasingly beginning to point to Brooklyn as the team that guaranteed him,” reported Givony. Makes some sense. After all that early season scouting, Brooklyn might not feel they need to work him out ... or they could have worked him privately, without us or anyone outside the organization knowing.

Of course, all that assumes the Nets don’t bundle the 29th pick in their efforts to move up in the first round. In a week, we shall see ... and probably before that, we shall hear.

That said, here’s the latest from the top mock drafts, starting with ESPN...

ESPN

29. Chandler Hutchison, 6’7” SG, Boise State, Senior

40. Devonte’ Graham, 6’2” PG, Kansas, Junior

45. Omari Spellman, 6’9” PF, Villanova, freshman

ESPN Analtyic Model

29. Jalen Brunson, 6’3” PG, Villanova, Junior

40. Chandler Hutchison, 6’7” SG, Boise State, Senior

45, Landry Shamet, 6’4” SG, Wichita State, Sophomore

The Ringer

29. Donte DiVincenzo, 6’6” SG, Villanova, Sophomore

40. Hamidou Diallo, 6’5” SG, Kentucky, Freshman

45. Jarred Vanderbilt, 6’9” PF, Kentucky, freshman

NBADraft.net

29. Aaron Holiday, 6’2” PG, UCLA, Junior

40. Grayson Allen, 6’5” SG, Duke, Senior

45. Isaac Bonga, 6’9” PF, Frankfurt Skyliners, 18 years old

Sports Illustrated

29. Elie Okobo, 6’4” France, 20 years old

40. Moritz Wagner, 6’11” C, Michigan, Junior

45. Rodions Kurucs, 6’9” PF, F.C. Barcelona, 20 years old

The Athletic

29. Jarred Vanderbilt, 6’9” PF, Kentucky, Freshman

40. Omari Spellman, 6’9” Villanova, Freshman

45. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, 6’8” SG, Kansas, Senior

Tankathon

29. Khyri Thomas, 6’3”, Creighton, Junior

40. Moritz Wagner, 6’11” C, Michigan, Junior

45. Devonte’ Graham, 6’2” PG, Kansas, Junior

Bleacher Report

29. Jacob Evans, 6’6” SG, Cincinnati, Junior

40. Rodions Kurucs, 6’9” PF, F.C. Barcelona, 20 years old

45. Rawle Alkins, 6’5” SG, Arizona, Sophomore

Basketball Insiders

29. Elie Okobo, 6’4” France, 20 years old

40. Omari Spellman, 6’9” Villanova, freshman

45. Malik Newman, 6’3” PG/SG, Kansas, Sophomore

Sporting News

29. Donte DiVincenzo, 6’6” SG, Villanova, Sophomore

40. Dzazan Musa, 6’9” SF, Cedevita (Croatia), 19 years old

CBS Sports

29. Keita Bates-Diop, 6’7” SF/PF, Ohio State, Senior

New York Post

29. Hamidou Diallo, 6’5” SG, Kentucky, Freshman

Washington Post

29. Josh Okogie, 6’4” SG, Georgia Tech, Sophomore

As we’ve noted over and over again, it’s more likely that by 10:30 or so next Thursday, we’ll all be sitting around asking, “What just happened?!” rather than analyzing who the Nets took at 29, 40 or 45.