As the Brooklyn Nets‘ 2016-17 season winds down, the NBN team gives their input on Nets’ draft targets, the addition of Archie Goodwin and who to watch for in the remaining games.
Are there any potential Nets draft targets that have impressed you in the NCAA Tournament?
Sandy Mui (@sandymui1134): I haven’t kept up all too much (or even at all) with the NCAA Tournament, so I can’t make a full judgment on potential draft targets for the Nets. However, my photojournalist friend tells me he’d like to see the Nets pursue Caleb Swanigan. The Nets could use a true power forward on the team who doesn’t have the name Trevor Booker, just to boost some depth at the four and have someone aside from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson playing as a small-ball power forward.
And judging from highlights of Swanigan, he can provide the Nets with just what they need — scoring and rim protection. It doesn’t hurt that Swanigan has extended his shooting touch either (the Nets shoot plenty of threes) — his 44.7 percent clip from long range this season is a vast improvement from his 29.2 percent clip in his freshman year. Julian Applebome of DraftExpress also noted that Swaingan could be used as a small-ball center in the NBA, which could be very interesting for the Nets, who have two 7-footers and have had Booker operate as a small-ball five at some points.
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Charles Maniego (@ignisyon): Full disclosure. I’ve only watched one NCAA Tournament game this season. It was a UCLA game. While everyone has been talking about Lonzo Ball (and his dad), T.J. Leaf really impressed me. He’s a stretch four that has a decent skill-set outside of shooting. He can put the ball on the floor off of pump fakes. He’s also a decent athlete as well, possessing a solid motor. In general, I think the Nets should go after a power forward with one of their first-round picks.
Sean Costello (@SeanBKN27): I was really impressed with Caleb Swanigan. He played very good basketball and was one of the main reasons Purdue got as far in the tournament as they did. I would love to see his aggressiveness on the Nets, especially after all he went through. He was absolutely one of my favorite players to watch this season, and I followed him for a little while due to his story. When I first heard his story, it caught my attention, and I realized he could be special due to the drive bestowed in him from previous experiences.
For those who don’t know, Swanigan went back and forth from housings as a child and was around 400 pounds at one point. He was then taken in by his former AAU basketball coach and former Purdue basketball and football star, Roosevelt Barnes. Barnes was a member of the 1980 Final Four team and instilled a great mentality and values into Swanigan, and it showed all season long. The dude can be a beast, and I would love to see how Kenny Atkinson can develop him, as well as how he would play next to Trevor Booker, who has some similarities to him.
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Charles Daye (@NotTheChuckD): Tyler Dorsey from Oregon has probably impressed me the most, all things considered. However, while I think the Nets should definitely draft a power forward with one of their first-round picks I’m totally up in the air about what to do with the other pick. They should draft the best player available, preferably a player that can immediately contribute. No regulating to the D-League, just come in and ball.