Nets planning to draft back-up big?

Since Sean Marks took over the Nets, he’s always gone for Best Player Available in the Draft. Now, Ian Begley of SNY thinks the Brooklyn GM will instead pick for need on June 20.

Begley reports...

Per SNY sources, the Nets are targeting a big to complement/ back up starting center Jarrett Allen with one of their picks.

The Nets ranked a respected 17th in points allowed per 100 possessions and top 15 in rebounding rate on both sides of the ball. But they were undersized along the front line on many nights, which is why adding a young big man to help Allen and his teammates in the paint makes sense.

Reserve big Ed Davis, an important veteran for Brooklyn last season, is a free agent.

Indeed, the Nets were at a disadvantage in the first round of the playoffs when Davis sprained his right ankle in the third quarter of Game 1 and missed most of the series, forcing the Nets to play Jared Dudley and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson at the 5.

Begley also laid out possible picks the Nets could make with their three picks, at 17, 27 and 31.

Some of the bigs who may be on the board when the Nets pick in the first round, Begley writes, include Oregon’s Bol Bol, Goga Bitadze of the Republic of Georgia, Florida State’s Mfiondu Kabengele, LSU’s Naz Reid and Georgia’s Nic Claxton.

Not on Begley’s list, but on the Nets —Sean Marks personally scouted him— was Luka Šamanić of Croatia, a 6’11” 19-year-old.

• Sources: Nets targeting big man in NBA Draft to bolster front line, help Jarrett Allen - Ian Begley - SNY