Nets Draft Picks Dream Team

 

The Brooklyn, and previously New Jersey, Nets deserve a lot of criticism for trades they have made over the years involving their draft picks.

Most of the media and fan laughter comes at the expense of the famous Celtics trade, but that’s not the worst thing the Nets did.

Here’s a look back at the guys who should have, could have been on the Nets

PG Damian Lillard
SG Jaylen Brown
SF Kyle Kuzma
PF Draymond Green
C Enes Kanter

Bench:
Gorgi Dieng, Shane Larkin, Kelly Oubre, Markelle Fultz

Trades

In June 2014, Nets acquired Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry and D.J. White from the Boston Celtics for Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Kris Joseph, Keith Bogans, three first-round picks (2014, 2016 and 2018), plus the right to swap first-rounders in 2017.

How draft picks were utilized:

• 2014 – James Young #18
• 2016 – Jaylen Brown #3
• 2017 – Markelle Fultz #1 to 76ers*
• 2018 – Collin Sexton #8 to Cavs

*Celtics drafted Jayson Tatum third overall in 2017, after trading down with the 76ers. Philly took Markelle Fultz #1. You could debate which one of these guys would have, should have been Nets, but we’ll give the nod to Fultz above since he was the consensus #1 pick coming into 2017 draft.

Celtics were able to use the final pick as part of the package they sent to Cleveland in 2017 for Kyrie Irving. Ironically, Irving may leaving Brown and Tatum to join the Nets in 2019.

In March 2012, Nets acquired Gerald Wallace from Blazers for Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams, and a 2012 first round pick (top 3 protected)

How draft pick was utilized:

• 2012 – Damian Lillard #6

In February 2011, Nets acquired Deron Williams for Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, 2011 first round pick and 2013 first round pick.

How draft picks were utilized:

• 2011 – Enes Kanter #3
• 2013 – Gorgui Dieng #21 to Wolves

*Dieng was drafted by the Timberwolves, who acquired this pick as part of a trade involving the Jazz drafting Trey Burke.

In July 2012, Nets acquire Joe Johnson from Atlanta Hawks for Jordan Farmer, Johan Petro, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Williams, and a 2013 first-round pick, a 2017 second-round pick, the option to swap 2014 or 2015 first-round picks

How the draft picks were utilized:

• 2013 – Shane Larkin #18 to Mavs
• 2015 – Kelly Oubre #15 to Wizards
• 2017 – Frank Jackson #31 to Pelicans

Hawks traded Larkin to Mavs on draft night for #16 pick Lucas Nogueria, Jared Cunningham, and Mike Muscala

Hawks traded Oubre on draft night to the Wizards for the #19 pick, which was Jerian Grant. Grant was immediately traded by Atlanta to the Knicks for Tim Hardaway Jr

In 2012, Nets acquired Dan Gadzuric and Brandon Wright for Troy Murphy and a 2012 second round pick

How the draft pick was utilized:

• 2012 – Draymond Green #35

In June 2017, Nets acquired D’angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov from the Lakers for Brook Lopez and the #27 pick in 2017

How the draft pick was utilized:

• 2017 – Kyle Kuzma #27