Whereas all of the speak surrounding the Nets has been concerning the staff both transferring for Damian Lillard or transferring up within the NBA Draft, they very properly might determine to do neither and stand pat with the hand they’ve.
The Nets have labored out dozens of prospects — their names guarded as tightly as state secrets and techniques by normal supervisor Sean Marks — amid persistent chatter they’re exploring varied choices for transferring up within the draft.
The Nets are slated to enter Thursday night time’s draft at Barclays Middle with three picks, together with back-to-back first-round alternatives at No. 21 and No. 22.
The best-ranked prospect confirmed to have labored out for the Nets is Brandin Podziemski — a 6-foot-4 guard from Santa Clara projected to go as excessive as nineteenth by The Ringer (and twenty fifth by Hoopshype).
And whereas the Nets have a obtrusive want for shot creators and shot makers, Podziemski has a ability set that matches.
A 43.8 % 3-point shooter (on 5.8 makes an attempt per recreation) as a sophomore, he’s doubtless essentially the most correct deadeye shooter on this complete draft.
“If he performed at North Carolina or Duke or one thing like that, he won’t have been as a lot of a [sleeper],” ESPN Draft guru Jay Bilas advised The Put up. “However he’s actually participant, and I feel he’s going to be a first-round draft decide.”
The Nets additionally reportedly have labored out the likes of Pepperdine’s Maxwell Lewis — one other West Coast Convention product — UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez, Xavier’s Colby Jones and Andre Jackson Jr. of reigning nationwide champion Connecticut.
However Bilas rated Podziemski a hair above the remaining, partly due to his assorted offensive recreation.
“That’s about the place I’ve him — within the early to mid 20s,” Bilas stated. “He can rating, good playmaker, and he rebounds his place. He’s solely like 6-4, however he can actually rebound. And he’s received actually good vary as a shooter, handles it fairly properly, and he can rating off the dribble and he could make performs for himself and for different individuals.
“I feel he’s one of many higher shooters within the draft. … He’s good on catch-and-shoot, good off the dribble jumpers. I feel he could be a higher defender, however he’s good athletically and I feel he examined rather well on the Mix. … He’s a very good prospect.”
What the Nets want
Podziemski’s taking pictures would serve the Nets properly.
The Nets had constructed a potent offense behind stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and had been second within the NBA in 3-point taking pictures final season via Feb. 10, behind solely the eventual champion Nuggets.
However from Feb. 11 on — after the Durant and Irving trades that reshaped the roster round Mikal Bridges — they plummeted to twenty first.
Dorian Finney-Smith — who shot 39.5 % and 39.4 % from deep the prior two seasons in Dallas — fell off to simply 30.6 in Brooklyn, and has drawn curiosity from different groups in commerce talks.
Joe Harris will begin subsequent season at 32, with growing tread on his tires and lowering effectiveness.
Combo guard Seth Curry is an unrestricted free agent who is very unlikely to re-sign.
And start line guard Spencer Dinwiddie has by no means been shooter.
Podziemski spent six weeks getting ready for the NBA Draft Mix in Chicago with former NBA guard Travis Diener, a fellow Wisconsin native.
The work paid off with a stable efficiency in Chicago that boosted his draft inventory.
His status as a sharpshooter preceded him, and, in keeping with Podziemski, could have overshadowed a few of his different robust fits.
Podziemski at all times has been a powerful rebounder for a guard, and he says his playmaking is underrated. The passing he flashed in a 10-point, eight-assist, seven-rebound scrimmage on the Mix backed that up.
“[They see me] as extra of a catch-and-shoot man which I feel I’m far more,” Podziemski stated on the Mix. “I feel I’m a real level guard. I inform folks that I’m a hooper that may shoot, not a shooter that may hoop.”
‘There’s no secret’
The run-in to the draft gained’t be the primary time Podziemski has needed to show individuals fallacious.
He performed at a program that hadn’t been a hotbed for NBA expertise. There was a 26-year hole between draft picks from former Nets coach (and Naismith Corridor of Famer) Steve Nash to Thunder 2022 first-round decide Jalen Williams. Now the mid-major might have first-rounders in back-to-back drafts.
And as a white participant born to white-collar mother and father, Podziemski says he’s needed to combat the preconceived assumption that he couldn’t play at an elite degree.
“Yeah, one hundred pc. Being a white man within the NBA. I imply, there’s no secret you’re a minority, proper?” Podziemski stated. “It’s more durable for you, simply as groups goal you, on protection particularly. You’ve received to have that confidence and that swagger and toughness about you to achieve success and be within the league for a very long time.”
Podziemski’s protection will want enchancment, as Bilas stated, however the 20-year-old has proven sufficient athleticism to recommend there’s room for that defensive development. Posting a powerful 39-inch vertical leap on the Mix helped his inventory.
The listing of gamers Podziemski stated he has emulated — together with Knicks standout Jalen Brunson — is telling.
“I watched a whole lot of Manu Ginobili, Luka [Doncic], Jalen Brunson, Jrue Vacation, [Donte] DiVencenzo,” Podziemski stated. “…I take little bits and items of them, all guys which can be athletic, however individuals criticize them for his or her athleticism perhaps, however are nonetheless super-high IQ and determine methods to make the staff higher.”
Podziemski made Santa Clara higher, averaging 19.9 factors, 8.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals per recreation.
As potent a shooter as Podziemski is, he is aware of he wants to enhance his ending on the rim and get higher within the midrange on the subsequent degree.
“I imply, simply going into the [pre-draft] course of, I checked out my shot chart from this previous season, and a whole lot of it was from floaters on the rim or from the three,” Podziemski stated. “Simply getting that midrange space extra environment friendly. … After which truly ending on the rim and never counting on floaters a lot.”
The Nets nonetheless are believed to be exploring choices to maneuver up earlier than Thursday or on draft night time.
But when they maintain one or each of their first-round picks, Podziemski may very well be an intriguing choice if he’s nonetheless on the board.
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