The Nets have a glaring need for a wing defender, but spent their two first-round picks on a center and yet another isolation scorer. Basically, they went best available player — and said they would again.
The Nets got volume scoring guard Cameron Thomas with the No. 27-overall pick and selected 6-foot-11, 265-pound Day’Ron Sharpe two spots later, with a pick acquired from the Suns. General manager Sean Marks essentially said the Nets’ draft board told them who to take, and they didn’t argue. And they won’t have buyer’s remorse whether Thomas and Sharpe contribute right from camp or late in the year or next season.
“Me being a three-level scorer, I can just bring all of that to the Nets, off the bench, whether it’s out of the gate or later in the year. You can never have too much scoring,” Thomas said. “I’m just ready to contribute, play now or later in the year. I just can’t wait to get to work.”
The Nets have superstars Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, but struggled against the Bucks with Irving and Harden both hurt.
Thomas is seen as a one-trick pony, but his lone trick is the most valuable one in the league.
“Like Cam said, you can never have enough [scoring],” Marks said. “We’re always looking for the best available. Very fortunate that both these young men were on the board when we were picking, so we’re thrilled with that.
“Regarding the scoring, that’s certainly something we’re always looking for. But we’re trying to look at where the other holes may be on the roster, nd to have a draft before free agency, you’re never sure what’s going to happen. We’re fortunate to have these guys and watch them develop.”
Part of Thomas‘ development will be learning shot selection. His form is impressively pure, better than one would think for a player who shot just 40.6 percent overall and 32.5 percent from 3-point range.
When asked whether Thomas’ confidence led to him taking so many contested shots at LSU or whether that’s what the Tigers needed to win, Nets head coach Steve Nash was unconcerned.
“He was asked to do a lot in college, to create a lot of balance and take tough shots late in the clock,” Nash said. “He’s more than capable to be an excellent shooter in our league. He’s got to go out [and] prove it. He’s got to work at it every day. All great shooters shoot every day and work at it religiously. But all the tools are there.”
Sharpe showed a better outside touch than expected in a predraft workout with the Nets, and he impressed enough to be a target early on.
“It’s a dream come true. They’re giving me a chance, an opportunity to prove myself. I feel like I’m gonna be a sleeper in this draft,” Sharpe said. “When it comes to physicality, I’m a physical player. I’m not going to let nobody push me around or do what they want. I’m gonna hold my ground. … I like to accept the challenge when I switch onto a guard. I like to accept the challenge to prove to people that I can defend.
“I feel like I have to prove myself to get my minutes. … You got to prove yourself before anybody gives you respect.”
The one thing Sharpe wasn’t prepared for is joining the Big 3, and the superteam he used to see in “NBA 2K.”
“I was like ‘Dang, I’m ’bout to play with KD, James Harden and Kyrie. That’s crazy.’ I play the games, so on ‘2K,’ you consider the Nets a superteam, so you can’t even play with them,” Sharpe laughed. “Kyrie, James Harden and KD, they dunk and make everything so [easy].”