The Nets‘ draft left fans with more questions than answers after they spent an NBA record five first-round picks in the same class, with the talents of some selections overlapping. Still, as Lucas Kaplan of NetsDaily writes, one thing is for certain: the Nets made sure to value what they saw as high-character players during this process.
“I loved just how hard a worker he is,” general manager Sean Marks said of No. 8 overall pick Egor Demin. “I saw him up close and personal in his individual workouts and other workouts that we had here with the group, and was able to compare what we saw during the season to what we saw now, and the uptick and the improvement that we saw was pretty outstanding. So I know he’s a class act of a young man, but he’s also a real worker, and that’s exciting for me, when the guy’s going to put in the due diligence.”
Brooklyn’s brass didn’t see the class as overlapping as much as outsiders did. In particular, Marks expressed that Demin and No. 19 overall pick Nolan Traore could coexist.
“I think we’d love to see both of them play together, for sure,” Marks said of Demin and Traore. “I think we always look at it a little bit of best player available at that particular time … But, you know, I think we’ve got to be very careful penciling a player into being a certain position, or playing a certain way when they’re 19 years old.”
In a subscriber-only story covering similar ground, Brian Lewis of The New York Post describes Marks’ type as quick-processing, ball-moving play-makers.
“Where we’re going with this is, we’re trying to find a brand of basketball that not only we think translates to a competitive brand out there and it’s going to fit with the Brooklyn community,” Marks said, “But it’s also where the NBA is going: guys who can play multiple positions, guard multiple positions and make it hard on the defense.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Celtics elected to trade back from No. 32 in the draft to obtain the Nos. 46 and 57 selections as well as two future second-round picks. “All the time we’re looking for the ability to get more assets in the future and still get a bunch of good players,” vice president of basketball operations Mike Zarren said in explaining the decision, per MassLive’s Brian Robb. “We felt pretty confident that there’d be guys we liked lower in the draft and we had the ability to add a couple of really good future draft picks in addition to getting those guys. So, that’s what we did.”
- While there is still uncertainty about where the Knicks stand in their head coaching search, Ian Begley of SNY reports Mike Brown made a strong impression and has garnered internal support. In the same story, Begley explores where the Knicks standing entering free agency, noting that they’ll have the taxpayer mid-level exception worth up to $5.7MM to offer free agents, as well as the veteran’s minimum.
- By using a second-round pick to draft Johni Broome out of Auburn, the Sixers made a bet on a player who has been exceptional at every level of basketball he’s played, and one who should be a strong culture fit in Philadelphia, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes (subscriber link). “I would say my will to win and hating to lose,” Broome said of his biggest strength. “When you hate losing, you do whatever it takes. … If that’s owning up to your mistake or calling out one of your teammates’ mistakes, I think that’s what helps winning, when everybody’s bought in and everybody’s on the same page of wanting to win. I think that’s just where it comes from.”
Nets signed 2 more UDFAs…
TJ Bamba, a 5th yr sr who played this year for Oregon, listed at 6’5” and looks super athletic and a NYC native…
Fanbo Zeng, 6’10” Chinese player.. supposedly was a Gonzaga commit for the 21/22 season but played for Ignite instead. Also played HS in the states. No idea what he’s done in the CBA, but interesting nonetheless.
Speaking of Oregon basketball, I would love to see them sign Nate Bittle… very surprised that he’s unsigned to this point.
I agree with you vis a vis Bittle. It’s a bit odd no one has knocked on his door yet.
solid player for the Ducks who looked sharp last season.
Demin is a great talent. I believe he can be special, an all star one day. Fact there is a strong Russian community in Bklyn. Can’t hurt either. Nets need loyal fans in NY.
Still how can you pass on the next great Center. A future DPOY who has offensive upside. You can’t pass on that as a rebuilding team. It is so much easier to build around a player like Maluach. And he’s a good guy. High character and coachable. Many will regret not taking this guy trust me, MANY.
Then you pass on Jakucionis. Kasparas has NBA size now. He will be a big PG in NBA. Those are the best, if they are true PGs. Which he is. French guard is not better than him. Big mistake. I have always believed in a guard and center as your best players. Then you are building a good solid team. A lead guard whether it’s Kobe and Shak. Or tony and Duncan. With a dominant big. Is the strongest way to build a good team. You have the best of inside and outside game. That’s most of it right there. Nets blew that lols ……. And I really like Demin.
“Next great center…” Oh my….
Keep talking up Maluach. The crow eating is going to fun.
Dekembe with offense. ……. I’m pretty good with bigs.
If by offense you mean 6 ppg…
He avg 8.6 pts at Duke on 3.5/4.9 FG. Playing 21 mins. That FG .712% would lead the NBA. He shoots 77% FTs, thats better than most centers now lol
The issue here is you have no vision. Cause there will be no real stats for 3-4 yrs. So since I’m not you. I can only see him getting better. And all you see is a big man. You will need those 3-4 yrs to catch up to me …..
In today’s nba that’s focused on driving to the basket, pick n rolls, or kicking out for a 3, he’s just not going to get nearly the number of touches to make any sort of impact offensively with his skillset. He was a complete non factor this season and while in fairness he’s not a finished product, this isn’t the type of profile that becomes an impact guy in today’s game.
This is one of the most overrated guys I can recall in some time. And then, add that centers generally take a long time to develop… and there is a long list of FAR MORE accomplished centers coming out of college that flamed out or just didn’t play up to expectations. Whatever KM turns out to be, you don’t use a top ten pick on a center with this much developing still to go imo.
Today’s NBA ….. i doubt you even know what that means. Only the media clowns use this term. To justify their takes. A DPOY is almost always a seven foot center. Half the game is defense. Do you actually watch games. Do you know why. We just saw playoffs play and won on defensive end.
There is no such thing as in todays gm. when the game is a 2way sport. All this has been done and recycled plenty of times. Read your history. Instead of reading the click bait hos of today …….
Defense is half the game. The most dominant players are all bigs. Jokic, Giannis, Wemby, Embiid . Easiest way to buid a winner is around a formidable big. Even if it’s just on defense. Maluach will get an offensive gm. As his FG and FT suggest. Everyteam in NBA has a seven footer. You think thats by accident. Look at the (bigs) real good teams. How are those teams doing. Did you miss IHart to OKC lol …..
I called that at last TD when he was a Knick.
You don’t know ball at all friend. IfYou can say he had no impact last year. Duke doesn’t get to Final without him. And he has plenty of development yet. Don’t worry I will teach you about bigs. Like I have this board for years now. I say start learning Mitchs game. Maluach will be much better ……
Start there and learn ….. then I’ll explain why I was so right about IHart to OKC.
Hah, you are nothing if not full of yourself, Al. Big pass on you teaching anything. I would say that your musings here would go a lot farther if you tried a little humility. Someone who truly has wisdom does not need to constantly boast, much less condescend to others. But you know, I am also fine sparring off with you if that’s the only way you can exist in this space. Your call.
As far as centers go, these centers drafted in the top ten of the last 18 drafts would like a word with you about their careers…
Marvin Bagley
Jaxson Hayes
Zach Collins
Dragan Bender
Thon Maker
Jahlil Okafor
Willie Cauley-Stein
Frank Kaminsky
Noah Vonleh
Cody Zeller
Nerlens Noel
Alex Len
Jan Vesely
Ekpe Udoh
Greg Monroe
Cole Aldrich
Hasheem Thabeet
Greg Oden
And the jury is out on others recently drafted. Point is way more bigs have failed to launch – with big expectations- than those that have carved out solid nba careers, much less ascend higher. KM has a long way to go to validate the lofty projections of some. I would pump the brakes a little till then, Bucko.
My man, Maluach is way over-rated and YES I do watch basketball mainly college and yes I played 2 years in college and yes I coached 5 years of High School hoops…..and one of my children went to Duke so I watch about a dozen Duke games.
First, Maluach is NOT a rim protector at all…he is too slow laterally and is not explosive. Averaging less than 1.5 blocks per at the college level stinks. Also, he will struggle to guard out at the 3 point line (most big do) and his offensive game is extremely limited at this point and is years away (if ever) from being Average.
He has a Mo Bamba vibe to him (different players) but Bamba was waaaay over rated coming out of Texas (i didn’t like him either) and Bamba was a way better shot blocker in college than Maluach, way better.
Do you think Kasparas can be that? I think he will be a quality player, will have a better career than many drafted before him, but it’s hard to predict hell reach that high of a level. The French guy might turn out awful, I agree. I don’t particularly believe in strong youth coaching at that position in France. But the Nets wanted the highest upside, and that’s what they drafted. The teams always do it, they will continue drafting Thon Makers hoping they get a big star, even though they realize that the bust potential is high.
Today cause most are 18-19 yr olds drafted high. The possibility of bust is higher. Personally I don’t like that word. Cause if you can be a rotation player. Then I don’t consider you a bust. Kasparas is still learning most of his mistakes. You can attribute to youth. A young player who tries too hard. Who sees things not really there. Talented young players go thru this as part of growing up. Have not learned to scale it back at times. You can’t go full speed all the time.
He has the size and enough game to be special imo. Great vision man. That you can’t teach. It’s instinctive. As he learns the game better. The talent level better. He will grow as a player. Most players don’t peak till after 24. I see a real PG with size. Who’s shot will get better. That’s a really nice player. Yeah I like him a lot. Played point in my day. So I love real PGs …….
Agree about the usage of the word “bust”. But the teams, especially lottery teams, aren’t looking for just good players, starters or rotation. They are not looking for Rui Hachimura or Malik Monk, they are looking for Jalen Williams, Haliburton, Giannis. They are okay with wiffing 9 times if they get one of those on the 10th try. I don’t like that, of course, but I’ve learned to accept it in a way. Especially if there’s a method to it.
Kasparas has size, yes. And he surely has vision, he interprets the space of the floor better than just about anyone in that draft, which is expected from someone who was seen as the best player in Barcelona’s academy in his year. That is why those players are so sought after by American colleges, who go after Madrid and Barca academy players like crazy. But I do have questions about his growth. I didn’t see him growing this year. And I’m not talking about him making mistakes, I’m talking about him not finding anything new to his game that he didn’t have a year ago. Nothing.
As a European and Barcelona fan, I might be a bit harsh on him for leaving the club and going to an American college instead of playing at least a season for Barca. I always believed that when you’re at that level, play for Barca or Madrid or Bayern or whoever it is you’re with. Do what Doncic did. Luka could have gone to college, would have looked great there and would have been drafted No.1. I do not doubt that. But he didn’t, and made the right choice as a basketball player, instead of trying to make himself as attractive as possible in the eyes of scouts. If a player is playing for a bottom-of-the-table team in Latvia or Finland, okay, sure, go to college. But not when you’re at Barcelona.
Also, I’m 99% sure that Brooklyn would win more games with Kasparas than with the French dude. And they don’t want to do that, they have won too many games this year already. They are probably aiming for a sub-20-win season, and for that, a French lead guard who often looked like he didn’t know what to do on the court might be just perfect.
Washington have been very successful in using Carrington for that purpose.
And then next up has to be a Clax trade. And the Lakers have to still be the most logical landing spot. If the Lakers were willing to move Knecht for Mark Williams, you’d have to believe that he’s still moveable for Clax and with all the distributors they just added, there is a need to bring in a young spacer like Knecht.
Add to that, that Laker world is saying that Jarred Vanderbilt’s days are numbered after drafting Adou Thiero. That’s a solid fit in Bklyn and would take out the need to re-sign Ziaire Williams.
Bklyn: Knecht, Vanderbilt, Kleber (to round out the $)
LAL: Claxton, Jalen Wilson
Vandy is signed for 3 more yrs on a reasonable deal. And Kleber is on an expiring contract. win win
And I would follow that with an aggressive offer to Santi Aldama, a RFA.
Good call on Aldama, he might be the best gettable RFA. There’s no way they can get Giddey or Kuminga, but maybe they can get Santi. They would need to pay him a lot for Memphis not to match, though.
Broome is a good pick for Sixers. More ready player with size. Old school 4 really. Thought he’d go higher. Knicks sure could have used him. I like him. Think he can help next yr.
Celtics should have taken Broome. They are losing bigs to FA. Makes better financial sense. Than trading pick. Plus just making Magic better. The team that should pass you this year …
Knicks picked to two potential upside wings. Like their size. Still young so we can hope they will peak in NBA. SL will be important this year. Need to find bench help somewhere …… all the rookies from last year will be there.
I always liked Marks, but he made a mess the past week. He got a good one at #8, but that was a lock going into the draft. Taking on Mann for a 4th late FRP (why-?), and then his uninspiring use of all 4, has left the team with a roster bloated with middling young talents that will be difficult to develop together, let alone build a good team from. It looks like an AAU seniors tour. He needs to clean this up. He still has a lot of cap space. He needs to add size and quality to the top of the roster.
Agree only the part about needing to add size. Re: the draft, it does seem like they prob tried to get another late lottery pick (10, 11, 12, etc) but failed. They really liked Demin and probably wanted to use that 11 or 12 for him, figuring he could have been picked by 14 or 15.. and when they didnt get that 2nd lottery pick, they just grabbed Demin at 8. Credit them.. they wanted him and weren’t concerned that 8 was higher than projected.
They otherwise just went after guys who were multi-skilled, were quick decision makers, could create their own shots, and are very coachable. The criticism of the Nets draft has been way overblown.