Kevin O’Connor’s latest projection shifts Brooklyn toward an Arkansas standout, potentially sparking a high-stakes draft day trade with Sacramento to secure additional assets and veteran depth.
Our friends at Yahoo Sports have been updating a full, 60-pick mock draft throughout the pre-draft process, with Kevin O'Connor predicting the Brooklyn Nets to land Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff Jr.
With recent reportings surrounding the Nets hinting towards the team leaning towards a front court prospect, like Tennessee's Nate Ament or the NBL's Karim Lopez, who both worked out with the team last week, this came as a bit of a shock.
But, laying low about Acuff could be beneficial, as the Sacramento Kings, who pick right after Brooklyn, are reportedly huge fans of the reigning SEC Player of the Year.
"There is a sense in opposing front offices that Brooklyn could trade down from this spot, whether it’s with a team trying to leap way up the board or even up just one spot in the Kings or two spots in the Hawks. Weeks ago I reported the Kings are widely believed to be targeting Acuff, so that’s in part why he’s the pick here for Brooklyn," O'Connor wrote. "Want your guy? Trade for him."
With the multitude of talented players available at pick six, trading down could earn the Nets some valuable additional compensation.
Following Acuff, at the No. 33 pick, was Zuby Ejiofor, who has been a popular name for the Nets throughout the offseason.
At St. John's, Ejiofor was one of head coach Rick Pitino's most consistent players, averaging 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds.
Ejiofor plays extremely physical on both ends, using his 6-foot-9, 245-pound frame to impact opposing players' drives.
The former Kansas Jayhawk showed huge growth as a defender, averaging 2.1 blocks and 1.2 steals per contest, both career-bests.
Following his standout season, Ejiofor took home lots of hardware, including the first unanimous Big East Player of the Year since Doug McDermott (2013-2014).
Rounding out Brooklyn's projected draft class is Purdue guard Braden Smith, who like Ejiofor, made history in his last collegiate season.
In the Boilermakers' NCAA Tournament first-round victory over Queens, Smith became the NCAA’s all-time leader in career assists , ending his career with 1,103 assists, 27 more than Duke’s Bobby Hurley (1991-94).
The Westfield, IN, native averaged nearly nine dimes per game this past season (8.8), adding 14.3 points.
While staying at one school for four seasons is a growing rarity in today's college landscape, Smith's dedication to Purdue made him one of the most beloved and accomplished players in school history.
This theoretical draft haul would address Brooklyn's need for star power early, while supplementing the roster with veteran pieces later on.
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