Brooklyn Nets: Draft picks show some swagger at introduction

The newest Brooklyn Nets, 29th overall pick Dzanan Musa and 40th overall selection Rodions Kurucs, were introduced to the media on Friday and showed they definitely have no confidence problems.

The Brooklyn Nets introduced their 2018 NBA Draft class to the media on Friday and if soundbites are any indication of future stardom, the Nets may have struck it rich with Bosnian forward Dzanan Musa and Latvian wing Rodions Kurucs.

The Nets took Musa with the 29th overall pick near the end of the first roundThursday night at Barclays Center and followed that up by selecting Kurucs at No. 40 overall midway through the second round.

The 19-year-old Musa played the last three seasons with Cedevita in Zagreb, Croatia, showing some definitely offensive flair and that scorer’s confidence was on display Friday, dismissing concerns about his slight frame with a comparison to Denver Nuggets standout Nikola Jokic.

Similarly, Kurucs — a 20-year-old who bounced back and forth between Barcelona’s A and B teams the last two seasons — didn’t back down when talking about future matchups with countryman Kristaps Porzingis.

Rodions Kurucs on Kristaps Porzingis: “[playing against] I’m gonna beat his ass.”

Dzanan Musa on Nikola Jokic at the draft: “He doesn’t have a muscle in his body...”

... These guys are gonna be fun
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) June 22, 2018

General manager Sean Marks was high on both prospects (obviously since, you know, he picked them). Musa and Kurucs are each 6-foot-9 players who do most of their offensive work on the perimeter and Marks said that fits well with what Brooklyn is doing, per NBA.com.

"I would hate to pigeonhole any of these guys into, ‘You’re a 2-guard, you’re a 3-guard, you’re a 4.’ It goes back to how they develop, what their development plan is here. Young guys coming into the league, there’s some stepping stones that they’ve got to go through.It would be far too early for me or anybody to decide this is the role or this is the position that they have to play. Let’s see how it pans out. But they do have a skill set — length, body size, IQ, all those intangibles."

After the draft Thursday, Marks pointed out the experience of Musa and Kurucs against elite competition. Both players have three years of professional experience already and each has represented his country in international competition.

Musa recalled one game in particular against his new teammate.

"My first game was against this guy in national team. He kicked our ass. He scored against us like, 28, 30 points. He dunked on us like eight times. So I remember this guy, a lot."

Musa said his idol as a youngster was Kobe Bryant and also mentioned Manu Ginobili as a role model for his teamwork and leadership.

Kurucs brought up Kevin Durant and Gordon Hayward, comparing his thin frame to the two-time Finals MVP and his shooting to the Boston Celtics’ forward.

Marks was also clear that Musa and Kurucs will be with the Nets in 2018-19 as opposed to coming along at a later time.

Sean Marks insists, again, that both Dzanan and Rodions WILL play THIS coming season, for the Brooklyn #Nets organization. @NetsDaily
— Bryan Fonseca 🇵🇷 (@BryanFonsecaNY) June 22, 2018

There was a report Friday morning that the Nets had already reached an agreement with Barcelona to buy out Kurucs’ contract and that the team and player had a deal in place for a four-year contract.

Brooklyn and Rodions Kurucs reach agreement on a long-term four-year deal through 2022, via league source. Barcelona, Nets finalized buyout terms.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) June 22, 2018

It was the first time the Nets have taken two international prospects without NCAA experience in the same draft. Musa was the 11th international pick by the franchise since it entered the NBA in 1976 and Kurucs became the 12th.

The newest Brooklyn Nets, 29th overall pick Dzanan Musa and 40th overall selection Rodions Kurucs, were introduced to the media on Friday and showed they definitely have no confidence problems.

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