As of the moment, the Brooklyn Nets already have a championship-caliber roster led by their deadly trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving. However, the three All-Stars still need to get sufficient help from a supporting cast that can complement their playing style and provide a spark off the bench. In this post, we're going to do Brooklyn Nets 2021 NBA Draft grades for every pick.
On Thursday night, general manager Sean Marks and company secured a huge haul as they selected a total of five prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft. Heading to their upcoming campaign, these rookies will definitely work hard in a bid to make the final roster and contribute to the Nets' championship aspirations next season.
Here are the grades for each of the picks that Brooklyn made in the recently-concluded proceedings.
Brooklyn Nets 2021 NBA Draft Grades
1st round
Cameron Thomas: B+
LSU star Cameron Thomas has proven that he is one of the best offensive talents in this year's draft class after a one-and-done season with the Tigers. He averaged 23.0 points on a 40.6% shooting clip from the field in 29 appearances last season.
On Thursday night, the Nets simply couldn't pass up on the chance to grab a player of his caliber when he was still available at No. 27 towards the end of the first round. However, there is definitely a reason why he slid despite his stellar production in the amateur ranks.
As of the moment, Thomas' passing and defensive capabilities still need some work in order to be effective at the next level. Certainly enough, the Brooklyn Nets will be having a stud who can have an instant impact on offense but selecting Thomas didn't exactly fill a pressing need, especially for a squad like Brooklyn that has greatly struggled on the defensive end last season.
Day'Ron Sharpe: A
After opting to go for the best available talent in Thomas, the Brooklyn Nets eventually looked to fill the huge void in the middle as they selected North Carolina big man Day'Ron Sharpe with the 29th pick. The 19-year-old was a contributor for the Tar Heels last season as he averaged 9.5 points and 7.6 rebounds in 29 games played.
Standing at 6-foot-11, Sharpe immediately gives the Nets a much-needed rebounding presence in the paint, especially after they traded away Jarrett Allen to the Cleveland Cavaliers midway through last season. Though he has yet to develop a reliable jump shot, the North Carolina native is still projected to have a role with the team as he is expected to grab boards, block shots, and provide hustle plays under the rim.
2nd round Brooklyn Nets 2021 NBA Draft grades
Kessler Edwards: A
Pepperdine standout Kessler Edwards is definitely one of the best prospects who surprisingly flew under the radar heading to the draft. In his junior campaign last year, he tallied career-best numbers of 17.2 points on a solid 49.1% shooting from the field in 27 appearances for head coach Lorenzo Romar.
The Nets' scouting department did a great job on keeping an eye on a talent like Edwards as they secured him with the 44th pick in the second round. As of the moment, he already possesses an ideal size at 6'8 with a 6'11 wingspan that will benefit him as he is expected to be a 3-and-D type of player for the Brooklyn Nets next season. Armed with a sweet shooting touch, the 19-year-old will definitely have a chance to make it to the opening day roster and provide valuable contributions for the team in just his first year in the league.
Marcus Zegarowski: B
Another solid find by the Nets in the second round is Creighton point guard Marcus Zegarowski who recently concluded a three-year stint with the Bluejays in the collegiate ranks. He made a living from the three-point area as he shot an applaudable 42% shooting from beyond the arc in each of his three seasons played in Nebraska.
Certainly enough, questions have been raised about his ability to defend bigger guards in the NBA, given his small size at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds. However, the Nets thought that they can still find value in his services as they took a chance on him with the 49th pick. Zegarowski's ability to translate his efficient shooting onto the pros will definitely be the key for him to thrive in the big league.
RaiQuan Gray: B
Rounding out Brooklyn's draft haul is power forward RaiQuan Gray out of Florida State who was selected with the 59th pick in the second round. In the 2020-21 season, he had his best amateur campaign as he notched 11.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 25 games played as a starter in Tallahassee.
During his collegiate days, Gray made a name for himself as an inside presence who is also agile enough to stretch opposing defenses with his respectable shooting. In addition, his versatility also helped him run the floor for the Seminoles which can fit the mold of a modern-day small-ball big man in the NBA.
The 22-year-old still has room for improvement but the Brooklyn Nets are sure to have a solid asset who can help them once he gets to polish his skills on both ends of the floor moving forward. Nonetheless, that ends our Brooklyn Nets 2021 NBA Draft grades coverage.
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