Brooklyn Nets’ Top Draft Picks Since 2000
By Rohan Dang
2. Kenyon Martin
With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, the Nets selected the college superstar Kenyon Martin from the University of Cincinnati.
In his four years with New Jersey, Martin actually played quite well. He posted rookie averages of 12 PPG and 7.4 RPG, and upped those numbers in the following seasons. Martin and Jason Kidd quickly led the Nets to back-to-back Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. He upped his game even more throughout these playoff runs. Martin put up 16.8 PPG in the 2002 playoffs, and an even more dominant 18.9 PPG, 9.4 RPB, and 1.6 BPG in 2003’s NBA playoffs.
He secured his only All-Star appearance in his final season with New Jersey, before being traded for draft picks.
His move to Denver proved to be unsuccessful however, as Martin took a step back. In fact, he was never able to put up the same number that he did on the Nets. After seven seasons in Denver he moved around from the Clippers to the Knicks to the Bucks, never capitalizing on the first pick-potential he was supposed to have. He did finish his 15 season career with respectable averages of 12.3 PPG, 6.8 RPB, 1.2 SPG, and 1.1 BPG.
1. Brook Lopez
With the 10th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Nets selected their future franchise piece in Brook Lopez, the seven-foot center out of Stanford University. Brook’s career with the Nets has been historic, as just this past season he became the Nets’ all-time scoring leader.
While he is not a strong interior defender, Lopez accumulated 972 blocks thus far, which translates to 1.7 per game. He has eclipsed the 20 PPG mark three times throughout his career, once in the 2010-11 season, and in his past two seasons with Brooklyn.
This past season featured an expanded range for Brook, as he hit on 1.8 3PTs per game on 35% shooting. These were strong numbers for a player who had hit a total three 3s in his career prior to 2016-17.
Brook’s impact on the Nets organization goes far past the numbers however. He has stuck with the organization through thick and thin, putting on a happy face every day he took the court in a Nets uniform.
As has been highlighted recently, after spending his nine seasons with the Nets, Brook has been traded for D’Angelo Russell.
P.S. D’Angelo Russell
Marks executed a brilliant move in exchanging Brook Lopez for D’Angelo Russell. It’s a low-risk, high-reward situation in which the Nets have nothing to lose.
Worst Case Scenario: D’Angelo busts, and the Nets continue with their original plan. Sure it hurts to lose Brook Lopez for nothing, however he wasn’t leading Brooklyn to he playoffs anytime soon.
The Nets struggle through one last “no-pick” season, and then will have their 2019 first rounder. Given Russell’s team options in 2018/2019, the Nets can hold onto him if they wants, or let him go.
Best Case Scenario: He becomes the superstar he was born to be. LA didn’t pan out the way anyone thought it would when the Lakers selected him 2nd overall.
From the whole Nick Young-Snapchat incident to his questionable shift to shooting guard this past season, the Lakers and Russell just didn’t seem to mesh. The move to Brooklyn gives both D’Angelo and the Nets a golden opportunity.
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Russell now has the ability to become the franchise player in one of the biggest cities in the world. He faced a similar scenario back in 2015, and hopefully he can learn from the mistakes he made then. He’s only 21 and oozing with potential, something the Nets were dreaming of.
The Nets now have the opportunity to birth a superstar. Kenyon Martin never lived up to the first pick hype. Jason Kidd and Vince Carter came to NJ already having several years of NBA experience and stardom. The best homegrown Net since has been Brook Lopez, a star center no doubt, but not a superstar.
A new culture in Brooklyn, a point-guard-oriented coach, and young talent could be the perfect match for Russell.