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Now that the Brooklyn Nets have hired their new head coach, they have to make whatever fortifications deemed necessary to have the right cast around Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving — whether that means re-signing players or bringing on new ones via trade or free agency.
The Nets could acquire pieces by utilizing one of or both of their 2020 NBA Draft picks, along with future ones. But Brooklyn still has quite a bit of time to assess the Class of 2020 with the NBA pushing the draft date back to November 18.
The Nets have Philadelphia’s first-round pick, which Brooklyn acquired when they sent the No. 27 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft — which wound up being Mfiondu Kabengele — to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Nets’ second-round pick belongs to the Boston Celtics, but they have the Denver Nuggets’ second-round selection.
Right now, Brooklyn has the No. 19 and No. 55 picks.
Here’s a look at one player Brooklyn could take at No. 55:
Ashton Hagans – Kentucky – Guard
STATS: 11.5 PPG – 6.4 APG – 1.9 SPG
For Hagans, going to Brooklyn would be a great opportunity.
He’d be in an organization known for developing players, plus he’d get the chance to learn from another small point guard in Kyrie Irving.
But, while he’s projected to go at No. 55 in Bryan Kalbrosky’s 2020 aggregate NBA mock draft for USA Today SMG’s HoopsHype, Hagans seems like an odd investment for Brooklyn, even at the late stages of the draft.
Unless the Nets see an abundance of untapped potential and someone who could become a solid backup point guard to eventually replace Spencer Dinwiddie, Hagans seems redundant — especially if you factor in Jalen Hands to all of this, too.
Nets 2020 NBA mock draft radar:
IMG Academy forward KJ Martin
Cal State Northridge wing Lamine Diane
Louisville forward Steven Enoch
Charleston guard Grant Riller
Barcelona wing Leandro Bolmaro
Washington forward Isaiah Stewart
Stanford guard Tyrell Terry
Georgetown center Omer Yurtseven
Michigan State guard Cassius Winston
Arkansas wing Mason Jones
UNC guard Cole Anthony
Vanderbilt wing Aaron Nesmith
Alabama guard Kira Lewis
TCU guard Desmond Bane
Hapoel Tel Aviv guard Yam Madar
LSU guard Skylar Mays
Kansas guard Devon Dotson
New Zealand Breakers guard RJ Hampton
Texas Tech guard Jahmi’us Ramsey
Duke guard Tre Jones
Maryland forward Jalen Smith
Florida State wing Patrick Williams
Arizona wing Josh Green
Villanova wing Saddiq Bey
Colorado wing Tyler Bey
Florida State wing Devin Vassell
Seton Hall guard Myles Powell
Washington forward Jaden McDaniels
Ohio State center Kaleb Wesson
Oklahoma wing Kristian Doolittle
Pesaro forward Paul Eboua
Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey
Olympiacos center Aleksej Pokusevski
Western Kentucky center Charles Bassey
Arizona guard Nico Mannion
ASVEL wing Theo Maledon
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