Roster - Brooklyn Nets

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Early Draft Picks

The Nets, accustomed to trading away their picks in order to solidify their roster over the past few years, have taken a bit of a different approach of late. In the last year, the Nets have acquired four different future first round picks (GS 2018, NO 2019, DET 2019, ORL 2020) they're all unprotected and it's possible that a few could end up in the lottery - a big bonus for a perennial playoff hopeful. This week brought another wrinkle to this strategy, as the team shipped out their own 2019 AND 2020 first round selections for a pair of young players already in the league - effectively moving up their two draft picks by a couple of years. Although the price was steep, the executive team thought that getting two guys with a couple of years left on their rookie deals that can play positions at which the Nets are a bit thinner, was ideal for navigating their way out of their current salary predicament.

Cameron Payne

Cam is a pretty controversial prospect at this point. While some scouts still clinging to the idea that he'll be an offensive presence in the league others swear he's already on his way out. The Nets would leave this deal happy customers if he can just be in between. With Eric Bledsoe as the only true point guard on the roster, they really need to bring in two point guards this offseason. E'Twaun Moore can slide over to the point, but rumor has it that he may not be around by the start of the season due to his high price tag. Cam should be able to at least provide coverage as an emergency backup point guard - he's not a guy at this point that they want running the bench unit, but as a third guy that can step into that role for a week or two throughout the season it should work out ok. However, the Nets were at least nervous enough about his future in the league that they attached a provision which allows them to receive a 2nd round pick from the Mavericks in the event that Payne is unable to make their opening day roster.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

While not a knockout prospect on his own, Rondae is definitely the main piece that Brooklyn wanted to get back in this deal. His age, low salary, ability to play either forward position, and very solid defense make him a great compliment to the existing roster. Prior to him stepping on the floor with the team, there are rumors that should the team need additional offensive firepower coming off of the bench, he could move into the starting lineup at the 3 or the 4 due to his athleticism, defense and rebounding. He's almost sure to have a rotation role on the team, most likely at the 9th or 10th man slot, but for a guy that is only 22 on a team that wants to contend - that's not too bad.

Ultimately, the team addressed a couple of needs while adding youth and doing it within the budget - something that is proving difficult to do given their financial constraints. The optimistic side of this deal could be great - the Nets win tons of games for the next 3 years and the picks that they gave up are almost second rounders, meanwhile RHJ and Cam carve out big roles for themselves in the coming years. The pessimistic side would be more like the famed Jarrel Martin and Kyle Singler trades - which saw a team in borderline contention give up two unprotected firsts for non-difference makers while the team plummeted, making the picks land high in the lottery.

Rumor has it that there is a much larger deal on the horizon - but it won't come to fruition until things really get going again in the Fall.

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