The Brooklyn Nets are not going to use the 2022 unprotected first-round pick they got from the Philadelphia 76ers in the James Harden-Ben Simmons trade. Instead, the team is deferring it to 2023.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, that means the Nets will have the Sixers' 2023 first-round pick which they can use as a trade asset or to use for themselves. Brooklyn is certainly hoping that the said pick will move up the draft boards, with Philly's 2022 pick landing at no. 23.
ESPN Sources: The Brooklyn Nets are deferring acquisition of the Philadelphia 76ers 2022 first-round pick at No. 23 to the 2023 NBA Draft. The option on pushing back pick comes out of the James Harden-Ben Simmons trade. Nets had to inform the league office of decision today.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 1, 2022
As everyone knows, the Nets got a couple of picks when they sent James Harden to the Sixers. Aside from getting Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Andre Drummond, they got the 2022 unprotected first-rounder and a 2027 protected first round pick.
The Nets will have to inform the league office of their decision soon to make it official, though it is worth wondering why the team made the decision. Perhaps they didn't find an asset good enough to take with the pick and so they are just hoping the pick becomes more valuable? Who knows, but only time will tell if it's a good move or not at all.
Brooklyn has bigger issues to solve this offseason, though. They still have to decide on Kyrie Irving's future with the team after a rather dramatic 2021-22 campaign. Plus, there have been talks about potentially improving their coaching staff around Steve Nash.
Even without the Sixers' pick, the offseason will be interesting for the Nets that's for sure.
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