The Brooklyn Nets acquired the rights to the 23rd overall pick, sources say that the Nets are “likely” to defer it back to Philadelphia.
When the Philadelphia 76ers traded Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Andre Drummond to Brooklyn for James Harden and Paul Millsap, they also sent a conditional first-round draft pick to the Nets.
The Nets have until June 1 decide if they’d like to keep the 23rd overall draft pick for 2022.
If the Nets chose to send the pick to the 76ers, it’d be their only draft pick of this entire class. Philadelphia is operating as if they’ll retain the draft pick, working out various rookies.
Kyle Neubeck of the Philly Voicereported that the Nets organization were “likely” to defer the 2022 first round draft pick, choosing patience and looking ahead for next years draft class.
“Just over a week out from the deadline, I’ve been told it’s relatively likely the Nets will opt to defer that pick to next season, a big enough chance that the Sixers are actively preparing to be armed with that chip this summer.”
The Brooklyn Nets retain the rights to ex-Euroleague player Nikola Milutinov, who is looking for an exit from Russia’s CSKA Moscow club.
Brooklyn’s own Nikola Milutinov, a former Euroleague basketball player who was suspended from play due to Russia’s actions against the Ukraine, is eyeing an exit from Russia’s CSKA Moscow club.
Milutinov is what’s known as a draft-and-stash prospect, who are stored for a team while the player continues to play and progress overseas. The San Antonio Spurs saw potential in Milutinov back in 2015, drafting him at the end of the first round. After storing him for years the Spurs shipped him to Brooklyn as a part of the Spencer Dinwiddie multi-team trade which occurred before the 2022 regular season .
Sources say that the seven-foot big man is looking to play on a bigger stage as he’s been competing in the VTB United League, a league consisting of mostly Russian clubs. Undoubtedly Russia’s ban from Euroleague competition limited Milutinov’s exposure and hurt their chances of keeping other talent.
Milutinov is rumored to be interested in returning to play in Europe, not the NBA.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Nets beat writer Kristian Winfield discuss the futures of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Ben Simmons and Steve Nash. The duo also discussed upcoming free agency for former Net James Harden and Bruce Brown, Nicolas Claxton, Goran Dragic, and more on the latest edition of the HoopsHype podcast.
For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.
If there is one word to sum up the Brooklyn Nets over the past few seasons, it’s inconsistency. Their defense fell apart this year and their bench lacked reliable role players for a large chunk of it. There was much unavailability for a myriad of reasons, which created too many variables for this Nets team to overcome. Until they remain consistent and available, they are more theoretical than actual contenders.
Aside from getting and staying healthy, Brooklyn’s main focus this offseason will be retooling their bench around their new All-Star trio. They have several free agents to make decisions on as well as a couple of players with pending player options who can also enter free agency. The Nets will also have the taxpayer mid-level exception as well as several sizeable trade exceptions they can use to make further additions to the roster.
Alright, I know that headline was super confusing. And I apologize for that. But, honestly, there’s not a better way to describe what I just watched.
During Wednesday night’s game between the Celtics and the Nets there was a play early in the 3rd quarter where Al Horford seemingly shoots an airball that landed directly into the hands of Daniel Theis, who was underneath the rim.
Theis catches the ball, lays it up and the Celtics score their 60th point. Here I am, thinking this is an offensive rebound and a putback. You know, just regular basketball stuff.
NOPE. WRONG. All these hours later, I’m finding out that this was an assist.
But then when you really look at it…Horford is definitely angling that shot as a pass to Theis. Over a sea of defenders, too. This is actually one of the most impressive passes we’ve seen all season long.
Everyone is so impressed with this and I can’t blame them. One second you’re like “wow, that shot sucked.” Then you’re just like “OH MY GOD WHAT HE REALLY DID THAT?!?!?!”
It’s pretty wild.
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Durant, in particular, has been struggling mightily with the Celtics’ defense. At least for his standards, anyway. He looks nothing like the Kevin Durant we’re used to right now.
As we all sat and watched on Wednesday as shot after shot clanked off the rim for Durant, I kept seeing tweets about this being the best defensive performance anyone has ever put on against him.
But there was only one real way to find out where this performance stacked up for Durant. It was time to go digging in some through old box scores.
Using the NBA’s game finder tool, it was pretty clear that this was in fact one of the best jobs anyone has ever done defensively on Kevin Durant — particularly in the postseason. There aren’t too many others like it.
The last time it happened was 6 years ago in 2016 against the Mavericks where he shot 7-33 (!!!!!!) from the field. That might actually be the worst shooting performance of his career.
What we saw on Wednesday was absolutely one of the worst shooting performances of his career. But the question is how? How are the Celtics doing this?
Durant actually explained how himself. It all starts with the Celtics’ physicality. Not only are they defending his shots well, but they’re bodying him up and denying him the ball so he doesn’t even get to take shots in the flow of things.
Kevin Durant: "They're playing me with 2, 3 guys sometimes when I'm off the ball, mucking up actions when I run off stuff. I see Horford leaving this man and come over to hit me sometime. They're just playing two or three guys hitting me wherever I go." #nets#celtics
This is where it all starts for Boston. That physicality with Durant is how they’re stopping him. And fouls? The Celtics don’t care about them. It’s why he shot 20 free throws for the first time in his playoff career on Wednesday.
It’s the price of admission to keeping Durant uncomfortable for Boston. If they put him on the line? Cool. Just don’t let him make any shots — even if it makes Wanda Durant mad.
That’s…a bit much, for sure. Add that to the Celtics’ physicality and, yeah, you can definitely see how he may not have had the best legs in the 2nd half of Game 2.
Things feel hopeless for the Nets right now after such a poor performance from Durant. But all isn’t lost here. The Nets can beat the Celtics. They lost game 1 on a last-second shot and blew a lead in game 2.
The fact of the matter is Durant has to find his rhythm for the Nets to be able to put Boston away.
But if it’s up to the Celtics? He never will.
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The Brooklyn Nets blew a 17-point lead against the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs (114-107), with Kevin Durant arguably having one of his worst playoff performances.
KD may have scored 27 points (18/20 FT), but he shot 4-of-17 from the field. He also turned the ball over six times. Kyrie Irving also had a poor performance, scoring just 10 points on 4-of-13 from the field.
NBA Twitter didn’t hold back on Durant and Irving during and after the game.
Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to the Celtics beating the Nets with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving struggling from the field.
The Brooklyn Nets blew a 17-point lead against the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs (114-107), with Kevin Durant arguably having one of his worst playoff performances.
KD may have scored 27 points (18/20 FT), but he shot 4-of-17 from the field. He also turned the ball over six times. Kyrie Irving also had a poor performance, scoring just 10 points on 4-of-13 from the field.
NBA Twitter didn’t hold back on Durant and Irving during the game.
