Because it is so early in the season, the Nets’ poor start has landed them near the bottom of the NBA and in the top-ten of the draft.
Although highly unlikely, if Brooklyn were to continue this poor stretch they will retain their lottery-protected first round pick that is set to be moved to Atlanta. Despite the panic that would arise in Brooklyn if they were to miss the playoffs, being able to acquire R.J. Hampton at eight overall would be a massive success.
Hampton would provide the Nets with a combination of a positional need and a best player available strategy. As a combo-guard, Hampton would be a very interesting fit next to Brooklyn star Kyrie Irving.
Between Irving, Hampton, and Durant, the Nets would have no shortage of scoring or floor spacing. Hampton is a pure scorer, standing at 6-foot-5 with a sweet handle and shooting touch. He certainly would be capable of playing off of the ball in a backcourt with Irving, but would certainly be better suited with the basketball in his hands.
There are really not many concerns with the young guard, who is playing well in the NBL despite limited minutes to this point. Some areas Hampton would need to address are his physical strength to be able to compete inside with NBA-level athletes and to clean up some of his turnovers and improve his game as a facilitator.
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There are more question marks around Vernon Carey than any other player in this draft. Despite finishing his high school career as the sixth overall player in the class of 2019, many do not believe that Carey will be a lottery pick come the Spring. However, Carey’s high school resume shows us otherwise.
Standing at 6-foot-10, Carey is an old-school center who is nearly unstoppable at the basket. Hist post game is very crafty, as he possesses great footwork to get himself open. Carey is also a very strong individual who can protect the paint and deny shots at the bucket.
Despite his back-to-the-basket style of play, he is good in transition and can pass the ball well for a big. In addition, Carey’s jump shooting seems to be something that could be useful from the mid range with work.
What concerns scouts about the Florida native is his weight and motor. Weighing in at 275 ponds, Carey to this point in his career has been unable to play for long periods of time, which could be a major deterrent to a team looking to draft in the top-ten. However, Cleveland doesn’t have much of a choice here, as taking a guard for the third straight season is simply not an option.