The Celtics own the Nets’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, but that doesn’t mean Brooklyn won’t end up being involved in the first round next Thursday. According to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link), people around the NBA expect the Nets to acquire a first-round pick, with an agent and a rival executive both telling him with confidence that Brooklyn will get back into the first round.
The Nets likely don’t have the trade ammunition to land a pick in the top half of the first round, but there could be a handful of willing trade partners closer to the end of the round. The Celtics, Nuggets, Suns, and 76ers all have three first-round picks apiece, and likely won’t use all of them. The Raptors also hold an extra first-rounder, and are expected to move at least one of their two picks.
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Of course, Brooklyn won’t be the only club making an effort to move into the back half of the first round — the Nets aren’t even the only New York team in the market for a pick. We heard back in May that the Knicks plan on trading into the draft, either in the second round or late in the first.
With only about $47MM in guaranteed salary on their books for 2016/17, the Nets’ taxpaying days are likely behind them for the foreseeable future. Still, adding a young player on a rookie contract would help keep costs down as the team goes through its rebuilding phase.
Thad young being traded or taking a contract like Chandler from the Suns with the 28 pick?
Would they be able to buy a late first rounder?
They might if a team isn’t thrilled about the prospects there. I don’t know if they even have a first round pick, but a team like the Cavs probably don’t want a late first round pick if they’re not huge fans of someone there. That would just be extra guaranteed money they have to give someone. If it comes down to a draft-and-stash guy or money, those teams might prefer the money.
I think this is less likely than it used to be, simply because the four-year, first-round rookie contracts are so valuable with free agent prices on the rise. It would be much easier to buy a second-rounder. But you never know.
I wonder if they would like their original #3 pick back? How about Lopez and a few more picks to boston in the deal?
They’d probably love their #3 pick, and probably wouldn’t mind sending Lopez…don’t think they’re gonna fall for the same trick again though and trade future first round picks. Trading Lopez would make their team much more worse and would make them a bottom 5-10 team for the next couple of years.
I hope the Nets get a good pick.