Brooklyn Nets: No shortage of intrigue on eve of NBA Draft

The Brooklyn Nets, as has been their fashion under GM Sean Marks, are playing their draft plans close to the vest, but rumors continue to circulate about those plans.

The Brooklyn Nets pulled off one of the bigger surprises of the 2017 NBA Draft when they selected Texas center Jarrett Allen with the 22nd overall pick.

In 2016, the Nets shocked many by trading for Michigan wing Caris LeVert — whose stock had faded because of two foot injuries in his final two seasons in Ann Arbor — getting LeVert with the 20th overall pick from Indiana.

On the eve of the 2018 NBA Draft, the Nets are doing little to tip their hand, even as speculation circulates that Marks may look to move up from the 29th overall pick, acquired from Toronto in the DeMarre Carroll deal, into the lottery area.

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The Nets released a video on Tuesday about the draft prospects that have come to the HSS Training Center for workouts. In a 40-second clip, you saw exactly none of the faces of those prospects.

Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported the Nets may be eyeing Bosnian scorer Dzanan Musa, a 6-foot-9 wing who believes he is a lottery pick.

In the latest mock draft from Jonathan Givony of ESPN (subscription required), Musa is slotted at No. 26 overall to the Philadelphia 76ers, so the Nets may not have to move up that much to get him.

That same mock, which was updated Tuesday, has Boise State wing Chandler Hutchison going 29th to Brooklyn, with speculation that Hutchison has been guaranteed by a team in the bottom end of the draft. Per Givony’s updated mock:

"Hutchison is reported to have a promise after skipping the NBA combine and canceling all his workouts, and teams are increasingly beginning to point to Brooklyn as the team that guaranteed him."

There has been some speculation the Nets might strike a deal with the Denver Nuggets to take on the contract of Kenneth Faried or Darrell Arthur to move up to the 14th overall pick.

However, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported the Atlanta Hawks have a willingness to take on Faried to add the No. 14 pick to their lottery pick at No. 3 overall.

Sam Amico of Amico Hoops reported Tuesday the Nets may be the biggest suitor for the No. 8 overall pick, belonging to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavs got the pick from the Boston Celtics in the Kyrie Irving deal last year, a pick that was originally Brooklyn’s before being included in the Kevin Garnett-Paul Pierce trade in 2013.

"Interestingly, the Brooklyn Nets are said to be the biggest suitor. Interesting because the Cavs’ eighth overall pick originally belonged to the Nets and came to Cleveland via the Kyrie Irving tade with the Boston Celtics).The Cavs are listening to all offers for the pick and will continue to do so well after they select a player."

In Lewis’ piece in the Post, he reported that Brooklyn is not likely to be involved in the Kawhi Leonard discussions.

It made sense to link the Nets and Leonard because of Marks’ ties to the San Antonio Spurs, but the Nets have spent five years giving away high draft picks because of an ill-advised trade for a veteran.

Still in a rebuilding mode, it’s unlikely Marks would give up too many of those future assets, even though the team will need a star player at some point in that process.

If recent history is any indication, draft night at Barclays Center Thursday night will be full of surprises, reaches, falling prospects and trades aplenty.

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And in a little more than 24 hours, the madness will begin anew.