It’s not getting that much clearer but everyone out there is trying to clear away the clouds and see what the Nets are planning a week from Wednesday.
Draft intelligence is picking up with only eight days left before the 2025 NBA Draft where the Brooklyn Nets still have five picks at Nos. 8, 19, 26, 27 and 36. Virtually no one expects Sean Marks & co. to “roster” them all. There’s agreement among pundits that they are aggressively looking to move those lower picks. Maybe they’ll consolidate them to move up … trade lower picks for higher ones; or use them to acquire new picks in 2026 or young prospects! Stash one in Europe? How about a salary dump!?!
Or maybe they’ll keep them and defy expectations. There is some indication that is possible. In two of the three episodes of SCOUT, Nets scouts talk positively about having picks in each segment of the Draft from the lottery to the high second round. And if they are following the model of the Oklahoma City Thunder, they might indeed go that route. OKC is one win away from its first NBA title and has four rookies on its roster, not including two ways. In the last two years of their rebuilds, in 2021-22 and 2022-23, they had five and three. (Begrudging H/T to JfromBK.)
So in tracking the mocks, we will keep monitoring the five slots until Shams or Steinie tells us otherwise.
On Tuesday, there were: reports from both Jeremy Woo of ESPN and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line that the Nets are aggressively marketing late picks. Woo did offer some wiggle room, though.
(Brooklyn) is unlikely to roster all of these selections and actively exploring a range of options as a result. If they stay put, the Nets have enough berth from a timeline perspective to take swings on younger prospect. – Woo.
San Antonio (No. 14), Oklahoma City (Nos. 15 and 24) and Brooklyn (Nos. 19, 26, 27) rank as three more teams known to be seriously exploring their trade options with those picks. – Fischer.
The big news in the ESPN mock offered some hope to those Nets fans who would like to see their team take a chance on Ace Bailey, the hyper-talented but polarizing 6’9”forward out of Rutgers who the Nets, including Sean Marks have seen more than a dozen times. Bailey could move down! It was an intriguing take by Jonathan Givony.
Bailey, the founder of Draft Express said, is “losing momentum”, noting that the 18-year-old has yet to visit any training facility for workouts because he doesn’t see “a proven pathway to development.”
The feedback from his interviews at the draft combine in Chicago was not all that positive, with some teams expressing concern about his lack of preparation and focus. NBA executives say Bailey has been polarizing in internal front office conversations because of questions about his feel for the game and lack of polish, creating a wider draft range than initially anticipated.
What does that mean, the lack of a “proven pathway” to development? Givony hints that Bailey doesn’t want Philly with its veteran lineup and lack of opportunity as well as minutes. Instead he has his mind set on another team further down the draft boards. Maybe the Wizards at No. 6, which even those of us with limited math skills understand is only two away from No. 8.
Some teams question whether Bailey has received assurances of being selected by a team currently outside the top five, to a situation deemed more advantageous from a geographic and playing time perspective.
Sounds like the veteran ESPN draft guru knows more than he’s telling.
Brian Lewis raises the question with less hesitancy or delicacy. He dives right into the possibility that Bailey’s geographic preference is Brooklyn, quoting an ex-76ers scout on how he’d be scared to take the mercurial Bailey at No. 3 but would be excited if he fell.
“At some point you’ve just gotta take the most talented dude. Sometimes that hits at [No.] 3, 4, 5; sometimes that hits at 8, 9, 10. It just depends,” ex-76ers scout Michael VandeGarde told The Post on Tuesday. “I mean, I’d be scared to death to take him at 3. I’d be excited to take him at 8, absolutely excited.
“Now, I’d still have the same fears I’d have if he was at 3, but there’s a lot more reasonable decision-making process of taking him at 8.”
Lewis also recaps what he was told about Bailey’s deficits earlier in the year.
“Hyper athletic, low processor. He needs much more structure than [there],” one scout told The Post. “I know the Nets organization well, and I’d say he would not be a good fit for the Nets.
“I think Ace could be a bust potentially, just a scorer. He cannot remember plays, and that’s why they’re not running anything. Obviously, there’s tons of talent there. It’s just [he’s got to go to] the right place.”
Brutal. Top picks do fall because of personality issues. Two years ago, Cam Whitmore, the Villanova wing, dropped from a projected No. 7 to No. 20 in part because of physical issues, rumors of a bum knee, but also concerns about how much he cared about the game. Givony reported that too.
There was one other piece of news Tuesday not contained in any of the mocks. Fans spotted three top prospects at Barclays Center for the New York Liberty – Atlanta Dream game: Jase Richardson, Kasparas Jakučionis and Nolan Traore. Were they in Brooklyn for workouts, then got a free ticket to the WNBA game? Makes sense. Seems to random otherwise.
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So what does the latest round of media outlets’ mock drafts tell us? Not much. The usual suspects are all there: Khaman Maluach, the Duke big; Kon Knueppel, the safe pick and Maluach’s Blue Devil teammate; the flashy Jeremiah Fears who’s been training in New York for three months and says he’s worked out at HSS Training Center and the steady Lithuanian point Kasparas Jakučionis who at least in this round of mocks was the most mentioned at No. 8.
Nolan Traore, the speedy French point, continues to be linked to the Nets in that trio of mid-first round picks. Drake Powell, the UNC shooting guard and Florida State’s defensive specialist Jamir Watkins are more popular than before among draftniks.
ESPN
Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have been a little judicious in their mocks, not pushing them out willy nilly but rather waiting for natural breaks. Tuesday’s mock comes after the first trades.
#8 – Khaman Maluach, C, 7’2”, Duke
#19 – Will Riley, SF, 6’9”, Illinois
#26 – Rasheer Fleming, PF, 6’9”, St. Joseph’s
#27 – Nolan Traore, PG, 6’3” Saint-Quentin
#36 – Jamir Watkins, SG/SF, 6’7” Florida State
Maluach, who our Lucas Kaplan profiled just before Givony and Woo posted their mock, is seen as an opportunistic pick for Brooklyn. They could, the ESPN draftniks think, go in a different direction too.
The Nets, drafting No. 8 right at the end of a tier of prospects before what seems to be a clear drop-off, can afford to be opportunistic and wait to see which player falls to them, whether it’s Maluach, Fears, Knueppel or someone else.
Maluach is one of the draft’s youngest prospects, turning 19 on Sept. 14, and has significant room for growth both physically and skillswise. He plays with tremendous intensity and is beloved by coaches and teammates because of his unique off-court intangibles.
We actually prefer Lucas’ scouting report.
Bleacher Report
Jonathan Wasserman along with many of his fellow draftniks updated their projections after the Desmond Bane trade to Orlando, but the changes didn’t affect his Nets selections.
#8 – Noa Essengue, C/PF, 6’10” Ratiopharm Ulm
#19 – Nolan Traore, PG, 6’3” Saint-Quentin
#26 – Danny Wolf, C, 7’0” Michigan
#27 – Drake Powell, SF, 6’6”, North Carolina
#36 – Jamir Watkins, SG/SF, 6’7” Florida State
Bleacher Report was probably the first mock to mention Essengue and Nets in the same breath and it still likes the link-up. Essengue may be raw — second youngest player in the draft by three days — and need some but that shouldn’t concern a team like the Nets
A rebuilding team that can afford to be patient could see a strong upside bet in Essengue if his growth continues at its current rate.
Wasserman also likes Jamir Watkins of Florida State in the second round as do Givony and Woo. Here’s why in one letter: D.
It has become easier to picture a disruptive, NBA defender after watching Jamir Watkins strip ball-handlers and blow up plays from off the ball during scrimmages. There should be a big second-round market for a 215-pound wing who guards multiple positions, finishes through contact and can provide secondary playmaking.
Yahoo! Sports
It appears Kevin O’Connor is looking at the Nets situation through the focus of need, rather than best player available, aka value.
#8 – Jeremiah Fears, PG, 6’4” Oklahoma
#19 – Egor Demin, PG, 6’10” Brigham Young
#26 – Joan Beringer, C, 7’0” Cedevita Olimpija
#27 – Hugo Gonzalez, SF, 6’7” Real Madrid
#36 – Alex Toohey, SF, 6’6”, Sydney Kings
Well of course the Nets need a LOT so there may not be that much difference between value and need, but KOC focused on one big need: point guard. So he likes Fears and Traore and up top.
The Nets have no point guards under contract, and they’ve long needed a fixture at the position. Fears is a dynamic guard with a twitchy attacking style and a knack for coming through as a clutch shooter. He was one of college basketball’s youngest freshmen, and it showed with his shaky decision-making as a shooter and passer. But he has a feel for shot creation and a handle that lets him get anywhere on the floor, so he may only need time to emerge as a star.
The Nets don’t need bigs with Nic Claxton, Day’ron Sharpe and Noah Clowney (at the moment at least) but O’Connor likes Joan Beringer another raw big who measured 7’0” in shoes when tested in Treviso two weeks ago. That’s an inch and a half taller than a year ago.
The Athletic/New York Times
Another mock updated in the last 24 hours. Jakučionis has been a stable choice for Nets among media mocks, going back to before the end of the season. Again, like others, Sam Vecenie focuses on the Nets lack of a point guard, projecting three of them: Jakučionis as well as Nolan Traore and Tyrese Proctor. All three are also international: Jakučionis is Lithuanian, Traore French and Proctor Australian
#8 – Kasparas Jakučionis, PG, 6’6” Illinois
#19 – Liam McNeeley, SG, 6’7”, UConn
#26 – Nolan Traore, PG, 6’3” Saint-Quentin
#27 – Asa Newell, PF, 6’11” Georgia
#36 – Tyrese Proctor, PG, 6’4” Duke
Vecenie explains why he believes Jakučionis is a good fit.
What I like about Jakučionis for the Nets is the flexibility he provides. They certainly need a lead guard and a playmaker of the future. If they choose to keep Cam Thomas, I like Jakučionis’ ability to play off him with his size and passing ability mixed with Thomas’ scoring firepower. However, since the Nets have four first-round picks, his versatility matters. Jakučionis playing on the ball means that they don’t have to prioritize getting a point guard. However, his ability to also shift off the ball means they would then have the flexibility later to take a lead guard if one were the best player available.
Tankathon
The funnest site of the bunch because they update things daily if not hourly. Moreover, there is no site with more data on individual players than Tankathon.
#8 – Kasparas Jakučionis, PG, 6’6” Illinois
#19 – Thomas Sorber, C, 6’11” Georgetown
#26 – Will Riley, SF, 6’9”, Illinois
#27 – Noah Penda, SG/SF, 6’6” Le Mans (France)
#36 – Bogoljub Marković, PF, 6’11” MegaBasket, Serbia
Markovic may be a sleeper. A 6’11” Serbian with passing skills who’s projected in second round. Does he own race horses??
NBADraft.net
Aran Smith has been doing this longer than anyone with a tried-and-true format. Might not be as accurate as those who came after him, but he has a legion of scouts who track a ton of prospects.
#8 – Kon Knueppel, wing, 6’7”, Duke
#19 – Joan Beringer, C, 7’0” Cedevita Olimpija
#26 – Cedric Coward, SF/SG, 6’6” Washington
#27 – Danny Wolf, C, 7’0” Michigan
#36 – Hansen Yang, C, 7’2”, Qingdao Eagles
Intriguing is Coward who played only three games in his senior year at Washington before getting hurt. He’s looked good at the NBA Combine and in workouts and Smith thinks he’s another player worth developing.
A late bloomer and skilled, efficient wing with real shooting touch, Coward has drawn interest from both the transfer portal and NBA circles … With his frame, feel, and two-way potential, he’s more than a two-way flier and could be an intriguing option for teams seeking versatile, system-fit wings … Born September 11, 2003, Coward won’t turn 22 until just before the 2025–26 season, giving him developmental runway as one of the youngest seniors in the draft pool …
USA Today
Last time we checked in with USA Today, they had artificial intelligence do the job of making draft selections and it came up with Kon Knueppel. Boring AI, boring. This time, three human beings led by veteran NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt, took responsibility.
#8 – Kasparas Jakucionis PG/SG, 6’6” Illinois (Lithuania)
#19 – Jase Richardson, PF, 6’1” Michigan State
#26 – Walter Clayton Jr, S6, 6’3”, Florida
#27 – Noah Penda, SG/SF, 6’6” Le Mans (France)
USA Today didn’t mock the second round.
Richardson is an interesting choice. While a number of players got boosts from their Combine measurements, Richardson’s standing dropped when he came in a little over 6’0”. Still, there are positives, as Zillgitt writes.
Richardson improved as the season progressed and turned into the Spartans’ steady hand with the basketball as a shooter (inside and out) and facilitator. He is an active defender with surprising bouts of athleticism. He also has a knack for collecting rebounds, big plays and poise under pressure.
SB Nation
The home team mock authored by Ricky O’Donnell. We have it on our site.
#8 – Jeremiah Fears, PG, 6’4”, Oklahoma
#19 – Noah Penda, SG/SF, 6’6” Le Mans (France)
#26 – Joan Beringer, C, 7’0” Cedevita Olimpija
#27 – Kam Jones, PG, 6’4” Marquette
SB Nation did not mock the second round.
Kam Jones is an interesting choice. He’s one of the oldest prospects in the NBA Draft at 23 years old — two and a half years older than Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead — and he moved from shooting guard to point guard while at Marquette.
Jones was always known as a good shooter during his first three years at Marquette, but he turned into one of the best playmakers in college basketball as a senior. The 6’4 guard can generate paint touches with tight ball handling ability and sudden burst, and his passing vision is a legitimate strength now. As Jones’ point guard duties ramped up, his shot fell off (31.1 percent),
NBA Big Board
Rafael Barlowe’s substack is seen as a smart all-around draft site and it keeps its mock up to date. It’s also often contrarian, dropping Kon Knueppel to No. 12 for example, two spots behind Nolan Traore. It’s Nets pick are a combination of the conventional and the contrarian.
#8 – Noa Essengue, C/PF, 6’10” Ratiopharm Ulm
#19 – Asa Newell, PF, 6’11” Georgia
#26 – Drake Powell, SF, 6’6”, North Carolina
#27 – Hansen Yang, C, 7’2”, Qingdao Eagles
NBA Big Board did not mock the second round.
Barlowe’s take on Yang is interesting. While others note that the Nets owner and Yang share a heritage, that isn’t mentioned by Barlowe. He likes Yang for what he is not who he is.
If I’m the Brooklyn Nets, I do not leave the 2025 NBA Draft without Chinese big man Hansen Yang. I’m a big believer in Yang’s potential, and I thought he flashed some really intriguing upside at the NBA Combine.
I love his positional size. Yang is a massive interior presence with soft hands and a natural feel for scoring around the rim. But what really makes him stand out is his passing—he’s a very gifted and clever facilitator out of the post. He rebounds, he has legitimate touch, and he just knows how to find the right spots. There’s a real foundation of skill and feel that makes him a fascinating long-term play.
Still, it must be noted that Tsai has said he would do all he could to help a Chinese player make it to the Nets and played somewhat of a role in getting Jacky Cui, China’s other young star a two-way.
So that’s it. We’ll probably do another of these much much closer to the Draft when we know just how many picks the Nets will use on June 25 and 26. Hang tight.