ESPN, in its newest draft function, assume the Nets ought to take Tre Johnson if they continue to be at No. 6 — and anyone else doesn’t transfer on the fast-rising 6’6” Texas sharpshooter. That’s speculative, after all. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo doesn’t contend he is aware of the interior workings of the Nets draft course of. (The truth is, in Brooklyn’s latest video on the group’s scouts, the group’s large board is purposedly blurred.)
Nonetheless, Woo does provide some intelligence from across the league on what the Brooklyn Nets is perhaps pondering.
What we’re listening to on the Nets: The thrill from rival groups has been the Nets aren’t planning for a real long-haul tank, even after reacquiring their very own picks final summer time. The Nets have probably the most salary-cap area within the league this offseason, however with a top-heavy 2026 draft on the horizon and a roster in want of main modifications with the intention to compete for a playoff spot, endurance continues to be a advantage right here.
Brooklyn, at present missing a centerpiece-caliber participant, is in place to swing for upside with this choose no matter the place it falls within the lottery because it figures out what the following iteration of its group will appear like. The Nets can afford to attend till the proper star turns into out there to shift gears.
Does that trace that the Nets would use a few of their 5 picks subsequent month — 4 firsts and a second — to make a giant splash this summer time with the acquisition of, say, Giannis Antetokounmpo? According to Howard Beck, IF he decides to go away Milwaukee, he would favor a brand new perch in New York, Los Angeles or Miami.
“The preliminary factor I bought from one particular person was simply, like, rumblings that it’s already simply the large cities,” stated Beck on Zach Lowe’s new present, citing the 2 groups every in New York and Los Angeles in addition to the Warmth.
Hypothesis abounds.
Sean Marks has talked about being opportunistic however not going to do something rash. In his off-quoted media availability three weeks in the past, he laid down the rationale for diverting from a homegrown, natural rebuild.
“Should you’re going after max-level expertise, they must mechanically and completely change the trajectory of your group. This will’t be like let’s go get this [guy] and lock ourselves into being a 6-7 seed. After we go all-in, you’re entering into to compete on the highest stage and contend.” [Emphasis ours]
Certainly, within the first episode of SCOUT, the Nets inside content material group’s documentary, B,J. Johnson, Marks’ No. 2 and the person accountable for the Draft for Brooklyn, steered that the Nets plan is a long-term one.
“To get this draft proper and to actually nail it — not just for the expertise stage that’s in it, however the kind of folks that we actually need,” stated Johnson. “We don’t have a look at it as a one time factor. This might set us up for the following 10 years of this group. So to me personally, we get these subsequent three years proper, we’re in a extremely good place.” (Emphasis ours once more.)
It needs to be famous that the quote is from a Nets senior employees assembly again in September so it’s extra like two years at this level, however each the Marks media availability and first episode of SCOUT counsel the Nets default place is certainly, as Woo famous, endurance.
As for Johnson, Woo wrote about what would attraction to Marks & Co. in regards to the 19-year-old and wonders in regards to the similarities between him and Cam Thomas, who’s in any case a restricted free agent:
Johnson has elevated his draft inventory after a season that showcased his scoring prowess, albeit on the expense of some effectivity. Whereas the Nets have leaned closely the previous couple of seasons on Cam Thomas — one other 2-guard who will be equally ball-dominant — Johnson’s dimension, youth and offensive upside make him value consideration for a group that owned the third-worst offensive ranking final season.
Johnson’s tendency to take robust photographs and bouts of overaggressiveness make him polarizing for scouts, however he is without doubt one of the draft’s extra proficient scorers in an offense-driven league. He’d be a participant value growing who might step into a giant function instantly in Brooklyn.
How typically has Brooklyn scouted Johnson? How about each recreation! One of many Nets scouts featured of their new documentary is Eddie Oran, who’s been with the franchise for 17 years, the final 12 as a scout. Throughout all that point, Oran has additionally been coloration analyst for Texas Males’s Basketball.
As we famous on this week’s Off-Season Report, again in November they bought a really close-up view of him. Texas, within the New York for a recreation on the Backyard, practiced at HSS Coaching Middle, a frequent cease for prime faculty groups taking part in within the metropolis…
Talking of Sean Marks, the Nets GM completed eighth within the annual Government of the Yr vote (by fellow NBA GMs.) remarkably forward of Brad Stevens of the Celtics and Leon Rose of the Knicks, Marks bought just one vote but it surely was a primary.
