Who can Brooklyn target with back-to-back first round picks?

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Duke Blue Devils forward Dariq Whitehead (0) dribbles the ball during the second half against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles at Amway Cente / Russell Lansford – USA TODAY Sports

Entering the 2022-23 NBA season, the Nets looked like serious contenders in the Eastern Conference and a team with decent odds to make the NBA Finals. Then nearly everything went sideways.

Head coach Steve Nash was fired within the season’s first two weeks. Jacque Vaughn took over and righted the ship and had the Nets in the thick of the playoff race come February. But Kyrie Irving, who was suspended following an incident involving the promotion of an antisemitic film and a non-apology early in the season, was traded to the Dallas Mavericks after negotiations on a contract extension fell through. The Nets received Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and three picks.

Then Kevin Durant was dealt to the Phoenix Suns in a four-team deal that netted Brooklyn forwards Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, and six draft picks, including the Suns’ 2023 first-round pick.

The fully remade Nets finished the year 45-37 with the sixth seed in the East before they were swept out of the playoffs by Philadelphia.

This sets up Nets GM Sean Marks to work with the No. 21 (via Phoenix) and No. 22 overall selections in the 2023 NBA Draft. Here is who the early projections see coming to Brooklyn in the draft.

Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report

No. 21: SG/SF Dariq Whitehead (Duke)

Info: 18 years old, 6-foot-7, 220 pounds

Whitehead will have a tough time rising up boards after another foot surgery that limits his workout opportunities. But a promising medical report could also help scouts re-picture the scoring wing at Montverde whose creation and shot-making development fueled top-five hype entering the season.

No. 22: G Leonard Miller (League Ignite)

Info: 19 years old, 6-foot-10, 211 pounds

More of an idea than a surefire NBA pro at this time last year, Miller now has a season’s worth of solid G League production, plus gradual improvement and an attractive combination of 6’9″ size and wing skills.

Arkansas Razorbacks guard Nick Smith Jr. (3) gestures…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nets-2023-nba-mock-draft-161944881.html?src=rss

Author : SNY

Publish date : 2023-06-03 16:19:44

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