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The Pistons won the Lottery but the big winners were probably the Cavaliers and Raptors who moved up. While the Nets didn’t have a ball in that ping pong ball fight, you never know how a lottery will affect other decisions. If the Lakers didn’t move up to two spots to the overall No. 2 in 2017 and take Lonzo Ball, would they have traded D’Angelo Russell to Brooklyn? We all know what ultimately happened in that case!
Putting that aside, the lottery gives the draftniks an opportunity to re-jigger their mocks. So it’s time for a new mock draft round-up! Nets fans haven’t paid much attention to the 2021 Draft for good reason: the future was and is now for Brooklyn. Still, the Nets have four picks in the 2021 Draft, the No. 27 pick (their own) in the first and the No. 44 (Pacers), No. 49 (Hawks) and No. 59 (Suns) in the second. That’s the most Sean Marks has to work with since he took over in 2016.
ESPN+
27. Charles Bassey, 6’11” C, Western Kentucky, junior
44. Terrance Shannon, 6’6” SF, Texas Tech, sophomore
49. Herbert Jones, 6’8” PF, Alabama, senior
59. Ochai Agbaji, 6’6” SG, Kansas, junior
NBADraft.net
27. Charles Bassey, 6’11” C, Western Kentucky, junior
44. David Johnson, 6’5” PG, Louisville, sophomore
49. RJ Nembhard, 6’5” PG/SG, TCU junior
59. Yves Pons, 6’6” PF/C, Tennessee senior
The Athletic
27. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 6’10” PF/SF, Villanova sophomore
44. Aaron Henry, 6’5” SG/SF, Michigan State junior
49. Sandro Mamukelashvili, 6’11” PF/SF, Seton Hall senior
59. RaiQuan Gray, 6’8” SF, Florida State junior
Sports Illustrated
27. Day’Ron Sharpe, 6’11” C, North Carolina freshman
44. Daishen Nix, 6’6” PG, G League Ignite, 19 years old
49. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 6’10” PF/SF, Villanova sophomore
59. Isaiah Livers, 6’7” SF, Michigan senior
Tankathon
27. Greg Brown, 6’9” PF, Texas freshman
44. Max Abmas, 6’0” PG, Oral Roberts sophomore
49. Quentin Grimes, 6’5” SG, Houston junior
59. Austin Reaves, 6’6” SG Oklahoma senior
Chad Ford Big Board
27. Isaiah Todd, 6’10” PF, G League Ignite 20 years old
The Ringer NBA
27. Jared Butler, 6’3” PG/SG, Baylor junior
Bleacher Report
27. Miles McBride, 6’2” PG, West Virginia sophomore
Yahoo! Sports
27. Greg Brown, 6’9” PF, Texas freshman
CBS Sports
27. Usman Garuba, 6’9” PF, Real Madrid, 19 years old
NBC Sports
27. David Johnson, 6’5” SG/PG, Louisville sophomore
SB Nation
27. B.J. Boston, 6’7” SG, Kentucky, freshman
Sporting News
27. Ziaire Williams, 6’8” SF, Stanford freshman
Newsday
27. Tre Mann, 6’5” SG, Florida sophomore
Not a lot of agreement on who the Nets will take, but when two of the biggest, best informed mocks project the same player — in this case, ESPN and NBADraft.net — it’s probably good to take notice. Both like Charles Bassey, the 6’11” Western Kentucky big, to the Nets at No. 27. Here’s what Jonathan Givony writes about the fit for ESPN...
The Nets might look to add depth at center with a player they can develop into a long-term contributor. Bassey’s versatility as a shot-blocking, pick-and-roll finishing, floor-spacing big man is intriguing, and he has the strength and experience to help a team sooner rather than later.
Here’s some highlights...
In general, and it’s no surprise, draftniks like bigs for the Nets. Eight of the 14 mocks we surveyed had the Nets taking a player 6’8” or taller, with seven projecting power forwards or centers to Brooklyn.
Could they trade their first as they did in 2019 and 2020? Yes, reports Bobby Marks, but only after it has been made. Restrictions are as a result of the James Harden trade.
As for all those seconds, you can’t dismiss them. Over the past 20 years, the Nets traded away seconds that became Kyle Korver (No. 51): Draymond Green (No. 35); Pat Connaughton (No. 41) and Talen Horton-Tucker (No 46). Not to mention Joe Harris was taken at No. 33 and Spencer Dinwiddie, taken at No. 38.
The Nets have a number of options with the three seconds: They could sign a player to an NBA contract, a two-way deal, directly to the G League or stash him overseas. They’ve done all of that under Marks. They can also use a pick to sweeten a trade, trade multiple seconds to move up, trade for future seconds, particularly in years where they won’t have a first rounder.
The Draft is July 29. Big question is whether the Nets will host the Draft as they did from 2011 through 2019 or whether it will be virtual again as it was last year.