RUMOR ROUND-UP II: Prospects talk possibilities and how they liked Brooklyn Nets

Before the Brooklyn Nets traded for Terrence Mann and the 22nd pick Wednesday night, draft prospects talked to the media. Our Lucas Kaplan was there.

If you’re craving one last whiff of the rumor mill before the NBA Draft commences on Wednesday night, don’t expect the players to provide it.

Two dozen potential draftees were given invitations to the green room for the draft, but on Tuesday afternoon, they all gathered at the Lotte New York Palace to field questions from a ton of reporters, content creators, and other types of microphone-holders.

It’s an odd event. Players sit at their individual booths, reminiscent of a high school career fair, and answer questions for about 15 minutes each. You never know who’s going to ask what.

Billboard sent a correspondent to ask players what was on their pregame playlists. Somebody else could cut in with a classic “who are you most excited to guard in the NBA?” type of softball. There were nerds like myself eager to ask about the intricacies of drop coverages, and of course, team-specific reporters prying about individual workouts and if the player could find themselves in (insert NBA city here).

This last line of questioning draws the driest responses.

“I’m just blessed to be in this position, and I’m focused on controlling what I can control.”

That’s a direct quote from Ace Bailey on Tuesday, and he used some variation of that response each time he was asked about a potential landing spot. Trying to avoid Philly? Does he like what he sees in Brooklyn? Wait, can’t he actually control some of that stuff? Doesn’t matter, he’s blessed.

Likewise, Collin Murray-Boyles declined to specify any teams he’s worked out with, including the Nets, though was excited to talk basketball-specifics…

Some prospects offered morsels. Danny Wolf, the Michigan big who the Nets could target with one of their late first-round picks, praised his potential future home…

Others agreed…

Jeremiah Fears is certainly in the mix at #8, and he’s been one of the few prospects open about landing in Brooklyn, or anywhere for that matter.

At the NBA Draft Combine, he told ClutchPoint’s Erik Slater that his conversations with the Nets “were great. They were just telling me how I could fit within their system and be an overall good piece for them.”

Fears’ tone was slightly different on Tuesday, saying that the feedback Brooklyn gave him “was nothing different from all the other teams,” but added that he would love playing in New York City, calling it “an amazing city … lot of historical events, a lot of historical places that you can visit.” He’s been working out at The Summit for three months.

Indeed, the Tenement Museum is a good time, but does that really mean the Nets are keen on drafting Fears? Noa Essengue, similarly, was at least willing to admit he’d spoken to Brooklyn, but didn’t offer much more than that…

Fans can only hope that the Nets vision is true. No matter what the specifics of that vision are, Wednesday night represents the first real step in achieving it. Jordi Fernández seems to have been a home-run hire, and the developments of guys like Keon Johnson and Tyrese Martin were pleasant enough in 2024-25.

But this is Sean Marks’ first chance to add blue-chip talent to the roster, to kick this rebuild in the pants. If you listen to the betting markets, Khaman Maluach — who I love — is the favorite to end up in the black-and-white on Wednesday night. Of course, he would not disclose the teams he had or had not worked out for on Tuesday.