The Brooklyn Nets do not own a pick in this week's draft, but they're hoping to change that with the first selection one day away. With both of their selections (No. 3 to Houston and No. 39 to Memphis) out the door as part of the 2021 James Harden trade, Brooklyn has been active in discussions to acquire a pick, according to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer and SNY's Ian Begley.
General Manager Sean Marks hinted in April that the Nets would pursue opportunities to trade into the draft.
“I think we look at the draft the same way every year. It's take the best available,” Marks said at his exit interview. “If there's somebody in there that, wow, they're slipping, can we get in there at that particular pick?… Those conversations will be happening relatively soon and they'll be happening all the way up until on the clock… I would not rule out acquiring anything. If there's a guy there that you like, you've gotta have the conviction to go after it and and go after them.”
Marks has historically been very active in the days leading up to the draft, executing several trades in that window during his Brooklyn tenure. In 2019, he traded the No. 27 pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for a 2020 first. The next year, he traded that first – which ended up being No. 19 – and Dzanan Masa for Landry Shamet and Reggie Perry in a three-team deal with the Clippers and Detroit Pistons. In 2021, he flipped Shamet to the Phoenix Suns for Jevon Carter and the No. 29 pick, where he selected Day'Ron Sharpe.
What can the Nets use to trade into the draft?
With this draft being viewed as one of the weakest of the last decade, the cost of trading in should be considerably lower than year's past. Several teams have been shopping their picks in search of win-now players, and Brooklyn has several to offer.
Dorian Finney-Smith and Day'Ron Sharpe are the first names that come to mind. Finney-Smith is under contract for $14.4 million next season before a $15.4 million player option in 2025-26. At 30-years-old, he doesn't match Brooklyn's timeline and would be a seamless fit on most contenders.
Sharpe was productive last season after cracking the rotation for the first time in his career. However, the 22-year-old is entering the final year of his contract in 2024-25. With the Nets expected to sign Nic Claxton to a lucrative extension and rookie Noah Clowney impressing late in the year, it's unclear whether they'll eat into their 2025 cap space to extend Sharpe. The Grizzlies, who own the No. 9 and No. 39 picks, have shown interest in the fourth-year center.
Brooklyn also has seven second-round picks it can package in negotiations for a pick in this year's draft.
Who could the Nets be targeting?
The Nets have called front offices with selections as early as the 20s, according to Fischer. They've worked out several players who should be available in that range. The most notable of those names is 18-year-old French prospect Pacome Dadiet, a 6-foot-8 three-and-D wing who was mocked at No. 30 in ESPN's latest projection.
Brooklyn could also have interest in the G-League Ignite's Tyler Smith, according to NBADraft.Net. Smith, another three-and-D wing at 6-foot-9, was the No. 8 player in ESPN's 2023 high school rankings before joining Overtime Elite and later moving to the G-League. He was mocked at No. 36 in ESPN's projection.
Expect rumors of the Nets' activity to continue as teams weigh moving their picks ahead of Wednesday's 8PM start.
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