The Brooklyn Nets aren’t done wheeling and dealing just yet.
After swapping Nic Claxton and the No. 33 pick for Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick on Monday, the front office is actively working to add another top-20 selection in this week’s NBA Draft, according to league sources.
The Nets have been sniffing around several mid-to-late lottery prospects, including forward Nate Ament, wing Karim Lopez, big man Morez Johnson Jr. and Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr.
Ament and Lopez went head-to-head during a workout for Brooklyn earlier this month. Lopez spoke with ClutchPoints after the session and said the Nets were pleased with what they saw.
“It was a great workout,” Lopez said. “I did really good. They were pretty happy. The feedback they gave me is that they love my competitiveness, they love how hard I play, my IQ, stuff like that.”
Ament, who’s been tied to the Nets throughout pre-draft chatter, also felt good about his audition. “It went good. Karim’s a great player. It was a good workout, I had a lot of fun, I showcased what I can do,” he said.
Last-Minute Workouts and Meetings Signal Serious Interest
Brooklyn kept the guest list growing right up to the wire. Morez Johnson Jr. got a call for a last-minute workout on Sunday.
“It was a last-minute decision when they had told me that they need me to come in,” Johnson said. “I had a good workout. I believe they said I did good. I guess we’ll see if I actually did.”
Cenac didn’t work out for the Nets but did sit down with team brass on Sunday. “We had a great conversation. They definitely think it’s a fit there. We’ll see tomorrow,” the Houston forward told ClutchPoints.
None of these guys are likely to slip to No. 28. Ament and Johnson are widely viewed as lottery talents. Lopez and Cenac typically land in mock drafts somewhere in the late teens or early 20s.
The Ammunition to Move Up
So how do the Nets get another pick in that range? They’ve got the assets to build a real package. After the Randle trade, Brooklyn now holds No. 28, No. 43 and a mountain of future draft capital — 10 tradable first-round picks and 18 total second-rounders.
That kind of flexibility lets them get creative. They could package No. 28 with a future first to jump into the lottery, or dangle a couple of those seconds to move up just a few spots. With a few teams near the top of the draft possibly looking to trade back and stockpile picks, the Nets could find a willing partner.
Brooklyn’s front office has been aggressive this week, and the workout schedule tells you they’re not content just sitting on one mid-first-round pick. They’re looking to add a real piece, and they might have the chips to do it.
Leave a Comment