DRAFT WATCH No. 8 - Getting closer, but ...

Most of the workouts are complete, the scouting database has been updated and the internal mock draft is nearing its final form. Now, with the Draft two weeks away, the rumors will start.

As we’ve stated multiple times, things will change on Draft Night. They changed on Draft Night 2016 when the Nets walked into Barclays Center with the 55th pick and exited with the 20th (Caris LeVert) and 42nd (Isaiah Whitehead), but without Thaddeus Young and $3 million. They also banked a second rounder, Indiana’s, for future use.

They changed last year too. The Lakers trade was finalized in the second round and instead of having the 22nd, 27th and 57th picks, the Nets came away with a potential star in D’Angelo Russell (who was younger than 40 of the players selected that night), Timofey Mozgov but without the 27th pick or their all-time leading scorer, Brook Lopez.

We fully expect the same on June 21. Negotiations may already be underway. They were between L.A. and Brooklyn at this time last year.

But for the moment, we will continue to pretend that the Nets will pick at 29, 40 and 45. For the record, Josh Okogie, the Georgia Tech sophomore guard, is the biggest riser.

ESPN

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

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

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

Tankathon

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

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

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

NBADraft.net

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

40, Josh Okogie, 6’4” SG, Georgia Tech, Sophomore

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

The Athletic

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

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

45. Jerome Robinson, 6’6” PG/SG, Boston College, Junior

Sports Illustrated

29. Mitchell Robinson, 7’1”, C, No school, 20 years old

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

45. Shake Milton, 6’6” PG/SG, SMU, Junior

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

Bleacher Report

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

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

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

Sporting News

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

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

CBS Sports

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

The NBA Draft will be held on June 21 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. It will be the eighth straight year the Nets have hosted the Draft, the last six at Barclays and the two before that at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Tickets can be purchased here.