Sooner rather than later, the Brooklyn Nets\u2019 numerous roster changes must translate to winning. The two newest additions may move them closer to being a playoff squad. The Nets landed former Knicks forward Julius Randle via trade\u00a0late Monday, then on Tuesday selected 20-year-old combo guard\u00a0Mikel Brown Jr. from Louisville with the No. 6 overall pick in the NBA Draft, which was held at the Barclays Center, the Nets\u2019 home arena.<\/p>\n
After finishing 20-62 this past season, the Nets are in desperate need of difference-makers. The three-time All-Star Randle, Brown, and Michael Porter Jr., who led the team in scoring last season at 24.2, could form a trio that could help the Nets make a major leap in the standings. When trades can become official on July 6, the Nets will acquire\u00a0Randle from the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the three-team deal, center Nic Claxton, Brooklyn\u2019s longest-tenured player last season, whom they drafted in the second round (No. 31) in 2019, will go to the Chicago Bulls.<\/p>\n
The Nets will also receive Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson, who was taken at No. 28 by the Timberwolves on Tuesday, and the Wolves will get the No. 33 pick, a second-rounder, from the Nets. Round 2 of the draft was held last night (Wednesday).<\/p>\n
With Randle, who averaged 21.1 points and 5.0 assists a season ago as Minnesota\u2019s second-leading scorer behind Anthony Edwards, Brooklyn now has a reliable second option to Porter Jr., who had the best statistical season of his career in his first season with the team. This year\u2019s draft has added importance for the Nets as the Houston Rockets hold the right to swap their 2027 first-round pick with Brooklyn\u2019s 2027 first-round pick.<\/p>\n
As a freshman\u00a0this past season, Brown averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists\u00a0while shooting 41% from the field overall and 34.4% from 3-point range. Brooklyn selected Brown over Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff\u00a0Jr. Brown was considered the better pro prospect coming out of high school, but Acuff\u2019s emergence as the nation\u2019s top college point guard changed a lot of opinions.<\/p>\n
At 6\u20195\u201d, Brown is two and a half inches taller than the 6\u20192 1\/2\u201d Acuff. The Nets\u2019 decision-makers consider him a better fit for their roster makeup. Brown said he also sees himself as an ideal component of the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just felt like I was the right pick,\u201d Brown Jr said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I fit into the system really well and what Coach Jordi [Fernandez] is building with them. I got to see the team. The team was there when I came to work out. You could see the bond and the maturity and the camaraderie that they had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last June, Brooklyn selected guards Egor D\u00ebmin, Nolan Traor\u00e9, Drake Powell, and Ben Saraf in addition to forward Danny Wolf. The Nets, the youngest team in the NBA last season, now have an abundance of unproven talent that will battle for playing time alongside Porter Jr.\u00a0and Randle.<\/p>\n
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