Now that the dust has settled on the NBA Draft (even the Bogdanovic deal has been confirmed!), let’s take a quick look at how all these pieces might eventually come together.
1) Marshon Brooks: How does he fit in next year?
- Justin DeFeo: On a team in need of scoring, a player that score like Brooks fits in well. He’s able to help immediately, can (at times) have plays run for him, and with the attention being drawn by Williams and Lopez can space the floor and make defenses pay for helping off him.
- Steven Kyritz: His defense is questionable (though isn’t pretty much everything for any rookie?) and may affect his playing time. Brooks knows how to score the ball and can provide instant offense, something the Nets have seemingly been missing forever. Considering where the Nets were picking, getting a (near) sure-fire contributor and possible starter is a definite win.
- Vivek Netrakanti: Brooks would ideally fit in as a scoring sparkplug off of the bench next season. Billy King has said that he expects Brooks to compete for the starting role, but I don’t think that Brooks will become a starter next season. Hopefully, Brooks can become like a poor man’s Jason Terry and give the Nets some much-needed help on offense.
- Devin Kharpertian: I’ll say it: I think Brooks can compete for a starting spot by the middle of next season. I have to watch more film, but from the little I’ve seen, I love his game. I think he needs to add at least 20 pounds of muscle to his frame, but if he keeps developing, the Nets might have a star in the making.
2) Jordan Williams: How does he fit in next year?
- Justin DeFeo: His size and toughness helps New Jersey on the boards and possibly defensively against certain match-ups. Will there be nights that teams play small against us, rendering Williams ineffective? Of course. However, there will be nights where he’ll be a factor with his tenacity and rebounding alone.
- Steven Kyritz: Not only did Williams lead the ACC in rebounding, he was 1.7 boards better than the runner-up. Even if he never really develops much offense, rebounding alone should at least make Williams a serviceable rotation big man. If he can continue to transform his body, the ceiling becomes even higher. For a second rounder, that’s solid value.
- Vivek Netrakanti: Williams would be a different type of sparkplug off the bench. Williams averaged 11.8 rebounds per game in his last season at Maryland, and should become a quality rebounder in the NBA. His role will be to provide some hustle off the bench to alleviate the starters. That said, Williams (like Kris Humphries) will not block a lot of shots or run the floor like an athlete.
- Devin Kharpertian: Williams is an immediate upgrade on the bench over Johan Petro. I know that a wet paper bag filled with Funyuns is an upgrade over Johan Petro, but Williams can actually play a little, too. I don’t think he’ll ever be a star in this league, and he might not even reach “not bad starter.” That said, if he can keep the fat off and the muscle on, he’ll more than fulfill his expectations.
3) Bojan Bogdanovic: How does he fit in long-term?
- Justin DeFeo: Bojan’s a bit of an unknown, but it seems like he’s a player who could be a long-term contributor for the Nets at forward. He can score from the perimeter and off the dribble. He’s young and he has good size with decent athleticism. I see some Paul Pierce in his game. All that being said, he’s a tradeable asset as well.
- Steven Kyritz: While it will be a few years before he comes to the USA (if ever), Bogdanovic brings a lot to the table. He’s a proven scorer at high level, has a sweet shooting stroke, and his nickname potential is tremendous (BoBo and Mr. Bojangles are the early favorites). Could he be the final piece for a championship run if he arrives in 2014?
- Vivek Netrakanti: Bogdanovic was probably the most NBA ready and most proven European player taken in this draft. The guy is a solid wingman who can create his own shot, and is a decent scorer in the EuroLeague. He will struggle to defend athletic wings in the NBA, so a switch to the 2 could happen.
- Devin Kharpertian: I don’t know too much about Bogdanovic’s game yet, but Chad Ford says the guy would have been a surefire first-rounder if not for his buyout issue. The guy has proven he can do a bit of everything in Europe. Whenever the Nets figure out his buyout, I’m hoping to see him start. Lord knows the Nets could use a real small forward.
4) What grade would you give the Nets for this draft?
- Justin DeFeo: A-. Picking in the late first round, the Nets were able to grab a player who can help immediately, and who many draft experts ranked at least five spots higher. In the second round, they bought a potential first round talent as well as a young big with a knack for rebounding. Without trading any real assets, I feel the Nets did just about well as they could have done considering their drafting position.
- Steven Kyritz:I’m not really sure what the difference is between the two, so I’ll give the Nets an A-/B+ for their draft. They didn’t get the surefire star that would make it a clear A, but they got good value with all of their picks and three potential contributors. They did what they had to get players they wanted but didn’t pay an unreasonable cost to do so. Obviously the draft is a crapshoot, but these felt like the sort of moves winning teams make and should make this a better Nets team moving forward.
- Vivek Netrakanti: A-. The Nets came into this draft hoping for some rebounding, wing scoring, and experienced players. Check, check, and check. The Nets covered all of their needs and might have secured some depth for future teams as well as some players with the upside to become great players.
- Devin Kharpertian: I’m going to go bold and say that this draft was a solid A. Given what the Nets had to work with insofar as draft picks, it’s hard to imagine how they could have done better: armed with cash, future second-rounders, and picks 27 and 36, they were able to spin a top-15 prospect, an intriguing European forward, and fill a need all in one day. All in all, not a bad day at the office for Billy King.
