Malachi Moreno’s withdrawal forces Brooklyn to pivot as frontcourt depth remains thin. The 7-foot prospect’s Kentucky return removes a versatile rim protector from the Nets’ potential draft board.
Malachi Moreno withdrew his name from the NBA draft ahead of Wednesday's withdrawal deadline, removing one prospect from the Brooklyn Nets' draft board.
Moreno is returning to Kentucky, which is a major win for the program. CBS Sports' Cameron Salerno said that the Wildcats needed the 7-foot big man back the most.
He highlighted their shortcomings in landing Robert Wright III and Donnie Freeman from the transfer portal -- and recruiting Tyrann Stokes, who committed to Kansas. The Georgetown, Kentucky, native will spend one more season at his hometown school.
Brooklyn's center depth is pretty dicey after Nicolas Claxton and Day'Ron Sharpe. Danny Wolf is 6-foot-11 and could play center, but he's more of a stretch four than the common defensive, rebounding anchor.
Claxton has generated interest from other NBA teams in the trade market, but the Nets have held firm on keeping their starting center. He is entering the second-to-last year of his four-year, $100 million contract and will earn $23.32 million next season.
His contract is descending, which could be an additional reason teams are interested in acquiring his services. A potential Claxton departure opens the starting center spot for Sharpe, but the lack of depth makes the center spot weak.
Shape underwent season-ending surgery in March to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb. Brooklyn missed his hustle and rebounding when he was sidelined, which highlights the depth issues at center, especially when a player goes down.
The 7-foot freshman's return to college removes a draft prospect from the Nets board, forcing a pivot to other prospects. He is a solid rim protector, rebounder and finisher, and he's flashed some passing ability at Kentucky.
Moreno averaged 7.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in his freshman campaign. Returning for his sophomore season adds another season of development, which could raise his draft stock in the 2027 draft.
ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo projected Moreno as a mid-second-round pick in his first mock draft before the May 10 lottery on April 28. The Nets selected the 7-foot freshman with their 43rd pick.
Moreno's stock grew from Woo's first mock draft, appearing as a late-first-round pick in Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor's mock draft. The Atlanta Hawks drafted Moreno with the 23rd pick, which is a 15-pick jump.
It's an interesting rise, given that Salerno said he did not participate in five-on-five scrimmages during the combine week. Now, his return to Kentucky removes a talented big man from the draft.
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