Sports Illustrated released its second mock draft of the offseason today, and it has the Nets going small, taking 5’11” point guard Shane Larkin from the University of Miami.
Larkin averaged 14.5 points, 4.6 assists, and 2 steals in 36.4 minutes per game at Miami, and measured out with a stunning max vertical leap of 44 inches, the third-highest in the history of the combine. Incidentally, 2013 prospect D.J. Stephens registered a max vertical of 46 inches this year. Larkin’s sprint time of 3.08 seconds was the second-fastest in the combine, also behind Stephens. His agility time of 10.64 seconds was the seventh-fastest among all prospects.
If they hold onto the pick, I don’t see the Nets taking a point guard — they already have a backup and no undersized player is getting minutes on this roster. For the record, Sports Illustrated says the Nets would prefer a big to slip to 22. They have French center Rudy Gobert going one pick ahead, at 21, and Kansas center Jeff Withey going two picks later, to the New York Knicks at 24.
Chris Mannix, Sports Illustrated — 2013 NBA Mock Draft 2.0
