Brooklyn may take a Euro trip with pick
The Nets’ shocking move to acquire Dwight Howard probably made it tougher to move up in Thursday’s NBA draft. But it doesn’t mean they won’t bring any intrigue to Barclays Center. They always do.
Brooklyn made the move primarily for cap space next year, and will get a better player in the immediate future. The scaled-back deal didn’t include the Hornets’ No. 11-overall pick as early iterations of the transaction did. And though the Nets gave up a little cap room this coming season for a lot of it the next, their draft capital stayed pretty much the same.
Wednesday’s deal might not be the last move the team makes before its 29th pick comes up. General manager Sean Marks could have more up his sleeve. He tends to play his cards close to the vest like he’s in the World Series of Poker.
Multiple sources told The Post the Nets were trying to move up — before dealing away Timofey Mozgov, cash and two second-rounders (No. 45 this year and a 2021 selection) for Howard. Picks No. 11 (Charlotte), 14 (Denver) and 17 (Milwaukee) had all been in play to some degree, but if the Nets don’t move up Thursday, what players might they be targeting with picks No. 29 and 40?
Boise State’s Chandler Hutchison and French combo guard Elie Okobo are two prospects Brooklyn has been high on for longer than most. The Nets even scouted some of Hutchison’s scrimmages, and view him as an ideal wing to develop.
Brooklyn not only scouted Okobo last year, but Marks changed his flight plans to personally scout the French guard himself this year. Long before Okobo was considered a first-round prospect — months ago when he was viewed as outside the top 45 — the Nets privately felt that there were three legitimate international prospects, the young guard joining Luka Doncic and Dzanan Musa.
The Nets also have interest in Musa, a 19-year-old wing playing for Cedevita in the Croatian League. Brooklyn — linked to Musa in the latest mocks by Sports Illustrated, Tankathon and NBADraft.net — scouted Musa last year then again this season, though not on last week’s stateside tour, according to a source.
Though the Nets — coming off a 28-54 campaign — are still in talent-acquisition mode, privately they admit adding a stretch four is a need. To that end, Michigan’s Moritz Wagner is also a solid fit. He can space the floor, and led the Wolverines to the Big Ten tourney title and the national championship game.
Ohio State’s Keita BatesDiop also could be in the mix. And with the 40th pick, athletic Queens native Hamidou Diallo and Latvian wing Rodions Kurucs of Barcelona are options the Nets have scouted and hold in high regard.