Welcome to The Long Forecast on NetsDaily.
With March officially here, every game continues to matter a little more. Conference tournaments are around the corner, and for many prospects, this is where they make their name known.
Where do the Nets’ picks sit?
The Nets currently own the NBA’s second-worst record at 15-46, while their two second-round selections are currently slotted at Nos. 33 and 42 overall.
The Nets would have had a third pick, but the Nets traded it for a 2032 Nuggets pick in the Hunter Tyson deal. It is important to keep in mind, though, that with the youngest roster in the NBA, by far, another second-rounder might have had a hard time making the team.
Here are the latest mock drafts from Tankathon and Bleacher Report.
Risers
Momcilovic continues to trend upward as one of the more intriguing scoring forwards in this year’s class.
Against Texas Tech on Sunday, Momcilovic poured in 20 points while shooting 50% from the field and 40% from 3-point territory.
The 6’8”, 220-pound wing is currently averaging 17 points per game this season at Iowa State while shooting a whopping 50.2% from 3-point range.
He possesses a high basketball IQ and can score at all three levels, making him a player that talent evaluators will fall in love with as June inches closer.
Fallers
This one is largely injury-related.
Peat suffered a lower leg muscle strain during the Wildcats’ loss to Texas Tech on Feb. 14, sidelining him for three games before returning on Feb. 28.
Peat has remained productive overall, averaging 13.8 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 53.4% from the field this season; however, since his return, he has struggled to reach those same heights.
Since his return, the 19-year-old has played in two games, where he has averaged eight points and three rebounds in 26 minutes.
As March Madness approaches, Peat will look to regain the momentum he had built before the leg injury.
Spotlight of the week
Daniels is one of the more interesting long-term prospects in this year’s draft.
The 6’6” Australian guard, and younger brother of Atlanta Hawks guard and reigning MIP Dyson Daniels, is developing through the NBL Next Stars program with Melbourne United while flashing elite defensive instincts and positional versatility.
Brooklyn’s interest is notable. Nets general manager Sean Marks flew to Australia to scout Daniels in person, showing that the Nets are tracking the young guard’s development in the Land Down Under.
While Daniels is still very early in his professional career, averaging 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds this season as a capable 3-point shooter, evaluators remain drawn to his defensive upside and playmaking upside, along with his physical tools.
Sleepers
Currently in his fourth season under Dan Hurley, Karaban has been an impactful player for UConn.
Standing at 6’8” and 210 pounds, the senior is averaging 13.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 48.8% from the field and 41.5% from 3.
Karaban’s appeal lies in his versatility and feel. He moves well without the ball and thrives as a floor spacer while providing a competent presence on the defensive side of the ball.
With effective shooting splits and strong decision-making, averaging less than one turnover per game this season while playing at one of the NCAA’s top programs for four seasons, Karaban fits the mold of an undervalued role player who could ultimately be one of the best second-round picks in this year’s draft.
This week’s watch guide
Here is a list of NCAA games that fans should be tuned into this week:
March 4, 7:00 PM tip-off: Texas @ Arkansas
March 4, 9:00 PM tip-off: Baylor @ Houston
March 5, 8:00 PM tip-off: Rutgers @ 8 Michigan State
March 7, 12:30 PM tip-off: UConn @ Marquette
March 7, 2:00 PM tip-off: Kansas State @ Kansas
March 7, 4:00 PM tip-off: Florida @ Kentucky
March 7, 6:30 PM tip-off: UNC @ Duke
March 7, 8:30 PM tip-off: Auburn @ Alabama
March 8, 4:30 PM tip-off: Michigan State @ Michigan
March 8, 5:00 PM tip-off: Iowa @ Nebraska
|||||
### Date ### Tip-off (ET) ### Matchup ### Top Prospect
March 4 7:00 PM Texas @ Arkansas Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas)
March 4 9:00 PM Baylor @ Houston Kingston Flemings (Houston)
March 5 8:00 PM Rutgers @ 8 Michigan State Tariq Francis (Rutgers)
March 7 12:30 PM UConn @ Marquette Braylon Mullins (UConn)
March 7 2:00 PM Kansas State @ Kansas Darryn Peterson (Kansas)
March 7 4:00 PM Florida @ Kentucky Jayden Quaintance (Kentucky)
March 7 6:30 PM UNC @ Duke Cameron Boozer (Duke)
March 7 8:30 PM Auburn @ Alabama Labaron Philon (Alabama)
March 8 4:30 PM Michigan State @ Michigan Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan)
March 8 5:00 PM Iowa @ Nebraska Bennett Stirtz (Iowa)