The Brooklyn Nets have back-to-back picks in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. What are the best realistic outcomes?
The Brooklyn Nets began last season in the contenders circle. Then, at the trade deadline, they sent Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant to the Western Conference, closing the door on any hopes of immediate contention but not quite embracing a full-on rebuild.
Led by Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Nic Claxton, the Nets still managed to claim the sixth seed in the NBA playoffs. A first round exit to the Sixers — a sweep, no less — certainly poked holes in the roster, but it's clear Brooklyn has no intention of bottoming out. That approach is sensible when one considers that Brooklyn doesn't really control its immediate draft future, having traded most of their own picks to Houston for James Harden.
With the No. 21 and 22 picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, the Nets have a chance to add two more contributors to a deep roster. The Nets have most of their team under contract for next season, but a few notable names — Cam Johnson, Seth Curry, Yuta Watanabe — are set to hit free agency. Which prospect combinations would represent the best outcome on draft night?
Perfect NBA Draft combinations for the Brooklyn Nets:
3. Jett Howard and Andre Jackson Jr.
Son of Michigan head coach and former NBA All-Star Juwan Howard, it didn't take Jett Howard long to cement his place on first-round draft boards. Early in the season, he even seemed destined for lottery status. While defensive concerns have since tanked his stock, Howard would be a tremendous value pick for the Nets in the early 20s.
At 6-foot-8, Howard provides a compelling mix of positional size and volume shooting on the wing. He's one of the best 3-point shooters in the draft, comfortable running off of screens or working out of DHOs. He doesn't create much for others, but Howard showed potential attacking closeouts and creating his own looks closer to the basket at Michigan. He's one of the more polished offensive weapons on the board and he should be ready to contribute on day one.
Andre Jackson is similarly ready to step in and earn minutes. He played a central role in UConn's national championship run, supplying the Huskies with frenetic defense and valuable connective playmaking. Jackson doesn't score the ball much, but he's a bursty athlete who loves to run the floor and set up teammates. His processing speed and knack for winning plays should lead to a long future as a role player. Getting a productive bench piece in the 20s would be a massive win for Brooklyn.
2. Brandin Podziemski and Leonard Miller
Brandin Podziemski really popped in combine scrimmages, showcasing his high feel for the game and well-balanced skill set. The sophomore averaged 19.9 points for Santa Clara and made his name as a go-to scorer. At the next level, however, teams need to be able to buy him as a role player who can survive off-ball. He assuaged any concerns with his performance in Chicago.
On top of his dynamic 3-point shooting, Podziemski is a competitive defender who, at 6-foot-5, averaged 8.8 rebounds per game for the Broncos. He gets after it; Brooklyn and every NBA team should be impressed by his intangibles. He lacks the explosiveness to regularly break down his man one-on-one in the NBA, but Podziemski is a heady playmaker who can operate comfortably with or without the ball.
Leonard Miller has also been a hot name in draft circles despite his last-second decision not to participate in combine scrimmages. The G-League Ignite star averaged a double-double against professional competition last season. At 6-foot-10, his athleticism in the open court and two-way upside could appeal to the Nets, one of the NBA's most positionless teams.
Some of Miller's skill set is more theoretical than actual at this stage, but he displays soft touch on shots near the rim and he's an absolute handful for smaller or slower defenders once he's driving downhill. Miller made some impressive passing reads as the season progressed and he has the chance to guard multiple positions on the defensive end. He's a good upside bet for the Nets in contrast to Podziemski's high floor.
1. Dariq Whitehead and Bilal Coulibaly
Dariq Whitehead entered the season as a potential top-5 pick, but a foot injury sapped away his athleticism and left him struggling to establish a rhythm for Duke. Now Whitehead is undergoing a second foot surgery, which could drop him comfortably into Brooklyn's range on draft night.
If that happens, the Nets should be jumping for joy. There are valid health concerns tied to a lingering foot problem, but Whitehead is one of the more complete two-way prospects on the board at full strength. Even in what felt like a dismal season at Duke, he shot over 42 percent from deep and flashed plenty of playmaking potential on both ends. On paper, Whitehead is comfortable with or without the ball offensively and he can guard 1-4 in certain matchups.
Bilal Coulibaly is another prospect who deserves a lottery grade. He has operated in the massive shadow of Victor Wembanyama for French team Metropolitans 92, but that has ultimately benefitted the 18-year-old. One of the youngest players in the draft, Coulibaly is not difficult to lay eyes on.
For such a young player, Coulibaly already shows tremendous awareness on the defensive end. Listed around 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Coulibaly is a monster athlete, capable of exploding vertically for weak-side blocks or shooting the gaps for steals. Between him and Whitehead, the Nets would have two 18-year-old, switchable wings with extremely high ceilings. For a team looking to replenish its star power without high-ranking draft picks, such upside swings are the right move. The draft could not fall any better than this for Brooklyn.
For more information on the 2023 NBA Draft class, you can check out our latest Big Board and Mock Draft.