The Brooklyn Nets received a stunning new projection via this latest NBA Mock Draft. Where do the Nets take the Arkansas sharpshooter?
The Brooklyn Nets produced the kind of record that leaves fans believing they're a lock for the top five in the NBA Draft.
One new mock draft doesn't see it that way, though.
Brooklyn falls out of the top five per Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo! Sports Thursday. Even more stunning is he has the Chicago Bulls claiming the top pick, followed by Eastern Conference Playoff team the Atlanta Hawks at No. 2.
So where do the Nets land in this scenario? Not even at No. 5 either.
O'Connor has Brooklyn falling to No. 7 overall. And with the seventh pick, the Nets select Darius Acuff of Arkansas.
O'Connor dropped details on why he envisions the Razorbacks' sharpshooter fitting inside the Barclays Center.
"Acuff is a wiry scorer who can get a bucket from anywhere on the floor with a quick trigger, slippery handle, and a feel for manipulating defenses," O'Connor wrote.
But the Arkansas standout can also be damaging without the basketball.
"He can also thrive off-ball as a shooter and cutter, which would be vital for a Nets roster already full of ball-handlers," O'Connor said.
But the NBA columnist believes Acuff can come in as an upgrade for what head coach Jordi Fernandez has already to choose from.
"Acuff would have the highest upside of them all, though. He entered college with a scoring reputation, but has emerged as a skilled, low-turnover playmaker; he looks like a future All-Star who can toggle between a score-first or pass-first approach," O'Connor wrote.
Finally, O'Connor dove into the final reason why he sees Brooklyn as more of a fit for Acuff moving forward.
"Plus, he displays leadership qualities," O'Connor said. "The Nets are still badly in need of a lead dog. Acuff could be that guy."
Acuff has been mentioned as a Nets possibility before: April 18 by NetsRoundtable.
But in this mock, the Nets watch names like AJ Dybantsa, Caleb Wilson, Cameron Boozer, and Keaton Wagler go off the board before the seventh selection.
Acuff also gets selected ahead of Houston star Kingston Flemings, who falls to No. 9 to the Memphis Grizzlies. Flemings has been considered a potential fit for the Nets himself after declaring early for the NBA Draft.
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