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The Nets are not averse to taking chances at the Draft. In fact, some of their best bets have been on players who, for whatever reason, others steer clear of. Caris LeVert had three foot surgeries. Jarrett Allen supposedly didn’t love the game enough. Nic Claxton was too skinny, etc., etc.
Now, in the latest mock drafts, some other risky business has emerged. Dariq Whitehead, Duke’s 6’7” wing, was Mr. Basketball USA and Naismith Prep Player of the Year in 2022 while taking home MVP honors at the McDonald’s All-American Game. He spent five years at Monteverde Academy, the Sarasota basketball factory. Now, in our latest survey of mock drafts, the Newark native is the most popular choice for Brooklyn at Nos. 21 or 22, being named in five mocks out of the 15 we follow. Leonard Miller, the 6’10” wing who played for G League Ignite who’d been the most popular choice in our four surveys, is mocked to the Nets in four.
What’s the risk with the Duke freshman? Injury, much like LeVert. Over the last year, he’s had two foot surgeries, the most recent 10 days ago. Like LeVert, the more recent surgery was performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, the Nets official hospital, by Dr. Martin O’Malley, the Nets official foot and ankle specialist. That’s a good thing.
“He will begin his rehab process in two weeks and should be ready for full participation at the start of NBA training camp,” Dr. O’Malley said in a statement. “a revision operation with bone grafting for a fifth metatarsal Jones fracture.”
Does that give the Nets an advantage? More than one mock thinks it does. as it had with LeVert. As of now, teams have adopted a wait-and-see attitude, not being able to work out the 18-year-old who is one of the youngest players in the Draft. At Duke, he was basically a shell of his high school self, averaging 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game in his lone season while shooting 42.1% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range.
Here’s one scouting report...
Overall, the latest mocks haven’t changed much in their assessments of the Nets interest. Other than Whitehead’s rise, the same names dominate: Miller; Kris Murray, the Iowa wing; G.G. Jackson, the South Carolina PF; Noah Clowney, the Alabama big and Jett Howard, the Michigan wing. One are all on more than one mock.
A couple of other notes: Emoni Bates, the 6’9” high school wunderkind who had been mocked to Brooklyn in the second round, has dropped. And although the Nets have a surfeit of wings on their current, mock drafts overwhelmingly have them taking wings.
ESPN
21, Keyonte George, 6’4” shooting guard, Baylor, freshman
22. James Nnaji, 6’11” center, F.C. Barcelona, 18 years old
51. Colin Castleton, 7’0” C/PF, Florida, senior
NBADraft.net
21. G.G. Jackson, 6’9” forward, South Carolina, freshman
22. Noah Clowney, 6’10” center, Alabama, freshman
51. Keyontae Johnson, 6’5” small forward, Kansas State, senior
The Athletic
21. Dariq Whitehead, 6’7” wing, Duke, freshman
22. Jaime Jaquez Jr., 6-6 guard, UCLA, senior
51. Jaylen Clark, 6’5” wing, UCLA, Junior
The Ringer
21. Jordan Hawkins, 6’4” shooting guard, UConn, sophomore
22. Leonard Miller, 6’10” forward, G League Ignite, 19 years old
51. Jaylen Clark, 6’5” wing, UCLA, Junior
Sports Illustrated
21. Kris Murray, 6’8” forward, Iowa, junior
22. Jett Howard, 6’8” wing, Michigan, freshman
Tankathon
21. Jett Howard, 6’8” wing, Michigan, freshman
22. G.G. Jackson, 6’9” forward, South Carolina, freshman
51. Mike Miles Jr., 6’2” point guard, TCU, junior
CBS Sports
21.Kris Murray, 6’8” forward, Iowa, junior
22. Colby Jones, 6’6” wing, Xavier, junior
SB Nation
21. Dariq Whitehead, 6’7” wing, Duke, freshman
22. Kris Murray, 6’8” forward, Iowa, junior
USA Today
21. Brice Sensabaugh, 6’6” wing, Ohio State, freshman
22. Dariq Whitehead, 6’7” wing, Duke, freshman
Yardbarker
21. Leonard Miller, 6’10” forward, G League Ignite, 19 years old
22. Rayan Rupert, 6’7” guard, New Zealand Breakers, 18 years old
Bally Sports
21. Dariq Whitehead, 6’7” wing, Duke, freshman
22. Leonard Miller, 6’10” forward, G League Ignite, 19 years old
Clutch Points
21. Kobe Bufkin, 6’4” combo guard, Michigan, sophomore
22. Jett Howard, 6’8” wing, Michigan, freshman
New York Post
21. G.G. Jackson, 6’9” power forward, South Carolina, freshman
22. Kobe Bufkin, 6’4” combo guard, Michigan, sophomore
Newsday
21. Noah Clowney, 6’10” center, Alabama, freshman
22. Kris Murray, 6’8” forward, Iowa, junior
amNY
21. Leonard Miller, 6’10” forward, G League Ignite, 19 years old
22. Max Lewis, 6’7” wing, Pepperdine, sophomore
- The Nets have draft schemes — but Brandin Podziemski fits if the stand Pat - Brian Lewis - New York Post
- Owning three picks, Nets figure to be busy on Draft Night - Evan Barnes - Newsday
- 11 picks and $100M in salary: How the Nets can build a contender ahead of 2023 NBA Draft - Kristian Winfield - New York Daily News
- NBA Draft 2023: Five pressing questions heading into Thursday’s Draft - Adam Zagoria - NJ.com
- Nets Could Begin New Era With Thursday’s Draft Haul - Steve Lichtenstein - Steve’s Newsletter
- Nets 2023 NBA Mock Draft Roundup: Who can Brooklyn target with back-to-back first-round picks? - John Flanigan - SNY
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