Entering the 2022-23 NBA season, the Nets looked like serious contenders in the Eastern Conference and a team with decent odds to make the NBA Finals. Then almost everything went sideways.
Head coach Steve Nash was fired within the season’s first two weeks. Jacque Vaughn took over and righted the ship and had the Nets in the thick of the playoff race come February. But Kyrie Irvingwho was suspended following an incident involving the promotion of an antisemitic film and a non-apology early in the season, was traded to the Dallas Mavericks after negotiations on a contract extension fell through. The Nets received Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and three picks.
Then Kevin Durant was dealt to the Phoenix Suns in a four-team deal that netted Brooklyn forwards Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, and six draft picks, including the Suns’ 2023 first-round pick.
The completely remade Nets finished the year 45-37 with the sixth seed in the East before they were swept out of the playoffs by Philadelphia.
This sets up the Nets GM Sean Marks to work with the No. 21 (via Phoenix) and No. 22 overall selections in the 2023 NBA Draft. Here is who the early projections see coming to Brooklyn in the draft.
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report
No. 21: SG/SF Dariq Whitehead (Duke)
Info: 18 years old, 6-foot-7, 220 pounds
Whitehead will have a tough time rising up boards after another foot surgery that limits his workout opportunities. But a promising medical report could also help scouts re-picture the scoring wing at Montverde whose creation and shot-making development fueled top-five hype entering the season.
No. 22: G Leonard Miller (League Ignite)
Info: 19 years old, 6-foot-10, 211 pounds
More of an idea than a surefire NBA pro at this time last year, Miller now has a season’s worth of solid G League production, plus gradual improvement and an attractive combination of 6’9″ size and wing skills.
David Cobb, CBS Sports
No. 21: Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas)
Info: 19 years old, 6-foot-5, 185 pounds
Smith’s freshman season at Arkansas dampened his stock as knee issues kept him from finding a groove. But there’s a reason 247Sports ranked him the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2022. At 6-4, he’s a dynamic combo guard with elite offensive potential.
No. 22: SF Bilal Coulibaly (Metropolitans 92)
Info: 18 years old, 6-foot-6, 230 pounds
Wembanyama is not the only French prodigy in this draft class. Coulibaly has great athleticism and upside. He won’t be 19 until late July and may need some G League reps while transitioning to the American game. But his upside as a versatile, two-way wing is clear.
Matt Babcock, Draft Digest
No. 21: SF Bilal Coulibaly (Metropolitans 92)
Info: 18 years old, 6-foot-6, 230 pounds
Although Victor Wembanyama has generated the bulk of the attention this past season, his teammate, Bilal Coulibaly, of the Metropolitans 92 in France, has quietly generated NBA interest. At 6-foot-6 and 230 lbs., Coulibaly is an explosive athlete, primarily utilizing his abilities to get to the rim as a straight-line driver; however, his physical tools, and potential as a defender to go along with his youth, he’s still just 18-years-old, provides significant upside long term.
No. 22: G Ryan Rupert (New Zealand Breakers)
Info: 19 years old, 6-foot-6, 190 pounds
Ryan Rupert is a long perimeter player whose best skill and value stems from his defensive impact. At 6-foot-6, with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and a tough mentality, Rupert has all the tools to become an effective defender at the NBA level. However, Rupert is inefficient on the offensive end. And specifically, he has room for improvement with his outside shooting. Still, Rupert is a talented prospect with a lot of untapped potential. Subsequently, Rupert will likely be among the first international players selected in this year’s draft.
Tyler Byrum and Chase Hughes, NBC Sports
No. 21: SG/SF Maxwell Lewis (Pepperdine)
Info: 20 years old, 6-foot-7, 195 pounds
Lewis’s stats are mighty impressive and he clearly was born with a playmaking gene that some players could never develop. However, the lack of Pepperdine’s success is starting to affect where to evaluate Lewis. Ending the season shooting just shooting 21.4% from 3-point range in his last 10 games is also not how one wants to end their evaluation.
No. 22: PF/C GG Jackson (South Carolina)
Info: 18 years old, 6-foot-9, 215 pounds
This draft is not lacking whatsoever in athletic forwards and Jackson is yet another, although also with maybe the rawest skillset in the lottery. He’s fast and mobile at 6-foot-9 with the ability to create off the dribble, but he shoots sub-40% from the field and is not particularly good at shooting from anywhere on the court, even at the free throw line. The caveat is he’s only 18 and won’t turn 19 until December. He’s a long-term project who could be worth betting on if a team can give him time to develop.