The Brooklyn Nets have their eyes set towards the future as they have drafted Noah Clowney, Dariq Whitehead and Jalen Wilson. Their potential remains to be seen, but there is a lot of upside to what they can be as players and their impact on the Brooklyn Nets.
Clowney was drafted 21st in the first round of the draft, as the Nets look to add some length and spacing on the floor. In the 2022-2023 season at the University of Alabama, Clowney averaged 9.8 points on 48.6% shooting and 7.9 rebounds per game. Clowney is billed at 6’10’’ and 210 pounds, being a very agile big man.
He has good speed and agility for his size, but will need to bulk up to be able to stand his ground against the big men of the NBA. While not a 3-point specialist, Clowney can make himself open and make the open 3-pointer when given the opportunity. His aggressiveness and ability to play hard plays to his strengths as a basketball player, and that style of play will ease his transition in playing at the speed of the NBA. He is a quick leaper and high level shot-blocker, with a good shooting form and has a lot of potential upside.
Welcome to Brooklyn, Noah! #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/j1eSXi1nCo
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) June 23, 2023
Whitehead was drafted 22nd in the first round of the draft, who looks to be a steal in the draft. Whitehead sustained a fractured foot in the summer of 2022 that left him missing the beginning of his college basketball season. Whitehead did not look the same when he returned as he lost some athleticism and lift, but it does not undermine his ability to play great on the floor. The 6’7’’ and 220-pound guard has the ability to take it to the rim but outside of driving aggressively towards the paint, Whitehead can be a threat at the perimeter as he averaged 42.9% from the 3-point line during his 2022-2023 season with Duke University.
While at Duke, Whitehead averaged 8.3 points while shooting 42.1% from the field. The more intriguing statistic would be the 42.9% from the 3-point line which the Nets could be excited to have on the team. Whitehead’s potential as a 3-and-D player make him a potential steal of the draft and with upcoming surgery on his foot in the summer, Whitehead can possibly get that athleticism back before the start of the season.
Welcome to Nets World, Dariq! #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/JIw2TE19cm
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) June 23, 2023
Jalen Wilson was drafted 51st during the second round of the draft. From the University of Kansas, Wilson averaged 20.1 points and eight rebounds per game during the 2022-2023 season. Wilson is an exceptional 3-point shooter, but would need to increase his 3-point percentage as he shot at 33.7% last season with Kansas.
Despite his height at 6’8’’ and billed at 215 pounds, Wilson does not have much of a bounce in his jump. Along with that, he does not handle the ball at an elite level which could be a critical weakness that could lead to turnovers and loose balls. However, as a 3-point shooter, Wilson is great pick who could potentially be a good boost off the bench.
Let's get it, @thejalenwilson! #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/MjTWlmVEgT
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) June 23, 2023
How the draft picks can fit into the Nets next season
Clowney can work within the Nets lineup next season as a big man threat next to Nicolas Claxton. Both Claxton and Clowney can both get into the paint at ease, and if Clowney can improve his 3-point percentage, he could be a potential problem to teams not named the Brooklyn Nets. Clowney can get himself open and space the floor, and his aggressiveness can work well into his advantage in the NBA if he bulks up.
The aggressiveness of Clowney’s play can work to his advantage if he can grab a decent amount of rebounds per game. Clowney can not only use his mobility to get to the paint, but getting some strength can give him additional tools to assert his dominance inside the paint by powering through his defenders. How Clowney adjusts to the NBA remains to be seen and the results won’t be immediate, but the upside is very high for the 21st pick.
For Whitehead, he can work well as a potential starting shooting guard for the Nets. His ability to create his own shot, and shoot exceptionally well from the 3-point line will fit in perfectly with the Nets. The Nets are in need of guys who can create their own shots and shoot well from the perimeter, so Whitehead is the perfect pick for this rebuilding Nets team.
The Nets adding Whitehead’s abilities as a shooter brings in a potential superstar threat on the offense, with the bonus of being able to defend well against both guards and forwards. The only worrying thing for the Nets and Whitehead would be his health and how his foot will play into effect in the future. If his foot heals well, Whitehead has strong potential to be a star in Brooklyn.
Wilson can work perfectly as an offensive boost for the Nets. With the Nets needing 3-point guys, Wilson is everything they can ask for. He has a smooth shooting motion but there are some downsides that need to be worked on. Most importantly, the Nets need to work on his shooting percentage so that his perimeter shooting won’t go to waste. Having Wilson work on his handles can be beneficial to prevent possible turnovers. If the Nets can help Wilson improve on his handles and increase the 3-point percentage, he can be a deadly asset to the Nets bench.
The Nets have officially begun their rebuild and there is a lot of upside with their picks. Clowney is an elusive big man who can shoot the 3-ball when given the opportunity. Whitehead is an athletic guard who has the potential to regain his athleticism heading into his rookie season but even without that athleticism, he can create his own shot and shoot exceptionally well from the perimeter. Wilson can potentially be a nightmare to handle with his perimeter shooting if he can get his shooting percentage from the 3-point line to increase and improve the ball handling.
The Brooklyn Nets are slowly building their core and with these 3 picks and their potential upside, the Nets can maybe finally have a strong core. If Ben Simmons is willing to play next season, he has a lot of weapons he can look for to get the Nets to be a deadly 3-point squad.
