In a Nets season that’s all in regards to the rebuild, they’re all however assured of their first lottery decide in a decade and a half.
And Wednesday they had been overwhelmed by fellow tanking rival Toronto in a sport with all kinds of lottery implications.
The Nets and Raptors are each hoping for the coveted high decide and generational expertise Cooper Flagg, however in one of many deepest drafts in latest reminiscence, there are a number of different elite abilities that would doubtlessly change into the inspiration of a roster.
And video games like Wednesday’s had been very important in jockeying for place.
With the loss, the Nets saved tempo with the 76ers — who misplaced to the Wizards — for fifth within the lottery odds, and the seventh-place Raptors now trailing them by three video games.
As a refresher, drawings will likely be carried out Could 12 for the highest 4 picks.
The fifth-worst report would give the Nets a ten.5 p.c probability at Flagg and 42.1 p.c odds of a high 4 decide.
At sixth, these would fall to 9 and 37.25 p.c, seventh to 7.5 and 31.9. That’s presuming there are not any ties, which might skew the percentages.
With the lottery’s fifth seed, the Nets would have nearly no probability to really decide there, their likeliest touchdown spot both seventh (26.7) or sixth (19.6).
At sixth, their likeliest draft slot would nonetheless be selecting seventh (29.8), however this time adopted by eighth (20.55).
And in the event that they “fall” to seventh, selecting eighth would change into by far their most possible consequence (34.1), adopted by seventh (19.7) and even ninth (12.9), a troublesome tablet for such a misplaced season.
Although selecting within the 4-9 vary received’t web them Flagg or Rutgers’ Dylan Harper (or probably even RU’s Ace Bailey), there’s expertise available — greater than in nearly any season in latest reminiscence.
“I’ll put VJ Edgecombe and Tre Johnson in that mix. Those guys are great,” longtime 76ers scout Michael VandeGarde instructed The Put up. “[My fifth pick] would be Tre Johnson. You could change the order between two dudes, but I’d be ecstatic about them. … Then there’s a massive drop-off after those five.”
Jonathan Givony of ESPN is regarded the gold commonplace of draftniks, and his up to date “big board” has Edgecombe, Johnson, Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis, Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears, Duke’s Khaman Maluach, teammate Kon Knueppel and Maryland’s Derik Queen within the 4-10 slots.
Edgecombe, a 6-foot-5 freshman, went to Lengthy Island Lutheran. He’s bought an explosive vertical leap and electrifying first step. He’s a disruptive defender with questions on his offense.
Edgecombe took over late in Baylor’s NCAA tourney opening win over Mississippi State, and had 16 factors and 6 boards vs. Duke. Johnson has improved his taking pictures because the season went on.
“Edgecombe is one of the freakiest athletes I’ve ever seen in my life, and he’s put together a string [down the stretch] where he’s just been playing his ass off,” VandeGarde instructed The Put up.
Johnson, who simply turned 19, could be probably the most gifted pure scorer within the draft. Like a taller (6-6) model of Cam Thomas, he each takes and makes robust photographs.
Texas went simply 19-16 and misplaced within the first spherical, however Johnson had 23 factors in that loss, going 4-for-7 from deep.
He averaged 19.9 factors on 39.7 p.c from 3 and is even a reliable passer, although a poor defender.
“Tre Johnson’s been unbelievable. Every night he comes to play and every night he puts up numbers. He can score at all three levels,” VandeGarde instructed The Put up. “He’s not a freak athlete, but he’s got good length, good size. He’s been an absolute stud everywhere he’s been at every age. I really like that kid.”
Jakucionis is an enormous 6-6 level guard who nonetheless wants to chop down his turnovers (six in every of his previous 4 video games) and change into a extra constant shooter (24. p.c in his previous 10). His worst sport got here matched up in opposition to Harper, however simply 18 with measurement and playmaking chops, he has scouts intrigued.
