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The mock drafts are upon us again but the key question —whether the Nets will be in the Draft Lottery— won’t be answered for three weeks. As of now, the Nets will be picking at No. 16, 27 and 31. Of the three, the Knicks pick, at No. 31, seems the least likely to change before the first night of summer in Brooklyn. The Nets own pick will move up or down, dependent on the team’s playoff prospects, and the Denver pick could drop as the Nuggets keep winning.
In Tankathon’s Draft Power Rankings, based on the sum of teams’ pick values, Brooklyn is at No. 9, but second among teams currently playoff-bound. Only the Celtics, currently with three firsts, the Nos. 14, 18, 22, have a better draft outlook.
All that said, all those caveats considered, here’s what the draftniks think about who the Nets might take. Of course, the Nets internal draft is the only one that matters (the one that had Rodions Kurucs at No. 20 last year!)
And if you’re looking for trends —of course you are— the draftniks keep pointing to two international players: Japan’s Rui Hachimura and Georgia’s Goga Bitadze, both bigs. Judging by what Sean Marks has done the last three years, that wouldn’t be a surprise. His last three picks have been Europeans 6’9” or taller.
ESPN (March 19)
16. Rui Hachimura, 6’9” PF, Gonzaga, Junior
27. Grant Williams, 6’7” PF, Tennessee, Junior
31. Tre Jones, 6’3” PG, Duke, Freshman
NBADraft.net (March 15)
17. Sekou Doumbouya, 6’9” PF, France, 18 years old
27. Chuma Okeke, 6’8” PF/SF, Auburn, Sophomore
31. Jalen McDaniels, 6’10” PF, San Diego State, Sophomore
The Athletic (March 18)
17. Nassir Little, 6’7” SF, North Carolina, Freshman
27. Daniel Gafford, 6’11” C, Arkansas, Sophomore
31. Jalen McDaniels, 6’10” PF, San Diego State, Sophomore
Sports Illustrated (February 28)
17. Goga Bitadze, 6’11” C, Georgia, 19 years old
27. Brandon Clarke, 6’8” PF, Florida, Junior
Tankathon (March 19)
17. Tyler Herro, 6’5” SG, Kentucky, Freshman
27. Talen Horton-Tucker, 6’5” SG, Iowa State, Freshman
31. Chuma Okeke, 6’8” PF/SF, Auburn, Sophomore
Basketball Insiders (March 12)
16. Rui Hachimura, 6’9” PF, Gonzaga, Junior
27. Talen Horton-Tucker, 6’5” SG, Iowa State, Freshman
31. Daniel Gafford, 6’11” C, Arkansas, Sophomore
Bleacher Report (March 18)
16. Bol Bol, 7’2” C, Oregon, Freshman
27. Goga Bitadze, 6’11” C, Georgia, 19 years old
Fansided (March 14)
16. Rui Hachimura, 6’9” PF, Gonzaga, Junior
27. Goga Bitadze, 6’11” C, Georgia, 19 years old