Posts tagged ‘Javale McGee’

Monday night’s exciting college basketball season finale in the rear view mirror, full attention shifts to the draft this week. Underclassmen have until April 27^th to declare for the draft, June 16^th is the last day underclassmen who choose not to hire an agent can withdraw and preserve eligibility.

Barring a lottery miracle, the Nets will land a pick on the fringe of the Top 10 to address their two biggest needs – perimeter shooting and post scoring. Arizona’s Chase Budinger, Nevada’s Javale McGee, Texas A&M’s DeAndre Jordan, Florida’s Marreese Speights, and LSU’s Anthony Randolph all declared for the draft, expect to be available around the Nets selection, and project to address a need area. Only McGee hired an agent.

Rod Thorn decided to let Eddie House walk, and the Nets paid for it all season without a legitimate long distance threat to stretch defenses or combat zone defenses. The Nets toyed with Mike Miller at the trade deadline before standing pat, leaving the perimeter shooting hole. Budinger, the lanky 6’7” shooting guard, possesses the outside stroke to make teams pay from behind the arc the next time the Nets see a 2-3 zone. His defense remains a question, but Budinger is a legitimate perimeter scorer with a shot and the size to create mismatches.

Recent Net draft picks Sean Williams and Josh Boone pleasantly surprised this season stepping into prominent rotation roles most of the season, Boone elevated to the starting lineup. Questions remain on the offensively challenged Boone, who relied on transition and high percentage shots to score. Williams sporadically displayed flashes of a post game and the potential to bury the 10-foot shot, but is still extremely raw and inconsistent. Lacking a go-to post presence, the Nets became jump shot happy too often when they needed a basket. Arthur showed an array of post moves in Monday nights title game, though he’s undersized for a center. Randolph and Jordan are both long-term projects with immense talent and many questions. McGee does not have the upside of the other’s, but is a safer option that could contribute immediately.

The next few months leaves plenty of time to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each player, and detail the Nets need areas this offseason. By late April, the Nets will know who their options are with the two first round picks. Check out www.njnetscast.com for a full potential wish list when the underclassmen dust settles.