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Draft Watch #3 - Mock drafts link two freshmen to Nets

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Stanford v USC Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images

We’re now three days away from the 2021 NBA Draft which is once again at Barclays Center and rumors are flying — although none (yet) include the Nets. That will likely change on Thursday because Brooklyn currently has four picks at Nos. 27, 44, 49 and 59. It’s hard to imagine that will be the case after the Pacers pick at No. 60. Things will no doubt change.

So who do the draftniks like for the Nets? Two names jump out in our survey of 16 mocks? Ziaire Williams, the 6’9” swingman from Stanford, and Day-Ron Sharpe, the 6’11” center from North Carolina, were both linked to Brooklyn in four mocks. For the record, we don’t know if either has worked out at HSS Training Center but there have been hints the Nets have interest in both.

Both Williams and Sharpe were highly recruited high school players but both were somewhat disappointing in their freshman year. Jaden Springer, the Tennessee shooting guard, is next most popular, showing up in two.

In the second round, there are also two names that showed up more than others. Both are Big East big men: Sandro Mamukelashvili, the 6’11” Seton Hall senior and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, the 6’9” Villanova sophomore. They shared Big East Player of the Year award. Both were linked to the Nets in three mocks.

In general, one thing seems certain: there will be a lot of trades. Draft Day is the busiest trade day of the year in the NBA and although most of the trades are moving up and down, big trades do happen. (The Nets-Celtics trade took place on Draft Night in 2013 and the trade that sent Thaddeus Young to the Pacers for the rights to Caris LeVert was also a Draft Night deal in 2016.)

There are a rumors about teams moving down or out of the first round completely to save cap space for bigger deals ... or just to save money. Jonathan Givony of ESPN reported earlier Monday that the Lakers have explored moving down a few slots from the No. 22 pick while acquiring one or more second round picks. Jake Fisher of Bleacher Report has written that the Jazz may try to trade No. 30. We shall see.

What’s our best guess on how Brooklyn is approaching the Draft? The Nets seem likely to pick and keep the 27th pick and may use their three seconds to move up or get more draft in the future. Their draft assets are minimal because of the James Harden trade.

So here ya go...

ESPN

27. Tre Mann, 6’5” shooting guard, Florida sophomore

44. Rokas Jokubaitis, 6’4” combo guard, Zalgiris 20 years old

49. Aaron Henry, 6’6” small forward, Michigan State junior

59. Sandro Mamukelashvili, 6’11” power forward, Seton Hall senior

NBADraft.net

27. Jaden Springer, 6’4” shooting guard, Tennessee freshman

44. Jason Preston, 6’4” point guard, Ohio senior

49. Filip Petrusev, 6’11” center, Mega, 21 years old

59. John Petty, 6’4” shooting guard, Alabama senior

The Athletic

27. Ziaire Williams, 6’9” swingman, Stanford freshman

44. Joel Ayayi, 6’5” shooting guard, Gonzaga junior

49. Sandro Mamukelashvili, 6’11” power forward, Seton Hall senior

59. Moses Wright, 6’9” power forward, Georgia Tech senior

The Ringer NBA

27. Day’ron Sharpe, 6’11” center, North Carolina freshman

44. Filip Petrusev, 6’11” center, Mega, 21 years old

49. Rokas Jokubaitis, 6’4” combo guard, Zalgiris 20 years old

Chad Ford Big Board

27. Day’ron Sharpe, 6’11” center, North Carolina freshman

44. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 6’9” power forward, Villanova, sophomore

49. Sandro Mamukelashvili, 6’11” power forward, Seton Hall senior

59. Kessler Edwards, 6’8” power forward, Pepperdine junior

Sports Illustrated

27. Miles McBride, 6’2” point guard, West Virginia sophomore

44. Charles Bassey, 6’11” center, Western Kentucky junior

49. A.J. Lawson, 6’6” swingman, South Carolina junior

59. Daishen Nix, 6’5 point guard, G League Ignite, 18 years old

Tankathon

27. Ayo Dosunmu, 6’5” combo guard, Illinois junior

44. Isaiah Livers, 6’7” small forward, Michigan senior

49. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 6’9” forward, Villanova, sophomore

59. David Johnson, 6’5” point guard, Louisville sophomore

Bleacher Report

27. Day’ron Sharpe, 6’11” center, North Carolina freshman

44. Herbert Jones, 6’8” swingman, Alabama senior

49. Austin Reaves, 6’5” shooting guard, Oklahoma senior

59. Aaron Wiggins, 6’6” swingman, Maryland junior

Yahoo! Sports

27. Jaden Springer, 6’4” shooting guard, Tennessee freshman

44. Charles Bassey, 6’11” center, Western Kentucky junior

49. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 6’9” power forward, Villanova, sophomore

59. Aaron Henry, 6’6” small forward, Michigan State junior

Basketball News

27. Day’ron Sharpe, 6’11” center, North Carolina freshman

44. Joe Wieskamp, 6’5” swingman, Iowa junior

49. Isaiah Livers, 6’7” small forward, Michigan senior

59. D.J. Steward, 6’1” point guard, Duke freshman

CBS Sports

27. Jared Butler, 6’4” shooting guard, Baylor junior

NBC Sports

27. Sharife Cooper, 6’1” point guard, Auburn freshman

Sporting News

27. Ziaire Williams, 6’9” swingman, Stanford freshman

SB Nation

27. Ziaire Williams, 6’9” swingman, Stanford freshman

Newsday

27. Ziaire Williams, 6’9” swingman, Stanford freshman

Daily Dime

27. Kessler Edwards, 6’8” power forward, Pepperdine junior

The Draft begins at 8 p.m. Thursday at Barclays. Tickets are available. The Draft will also be televised by ABC (first round only), ESPN, ESPN+ and NBA TV. Following the 60th pick, Marks is expected to address the media.