Nets could look to use first-round NBA draft picks to maneuver, deal

NBA

By Brian Lewis

June 22, 2023 | 3:17am

The Nets woke up Wednesday morning with the 21st, 22nd and 51st overall picks in the NBA draft.

Chances are they won’t go to bed Thursday having made all of them.

This is always general manager Sean Marks’ deal-making time.

He traded the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Brook Lopez, for D’Angelo Russell just two days before the draft. With the exception of last season — partly handcuffed by uncertainty over Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving — Marks has made a move within 48 hours of every draft since he joined the Nets back in 2016.

At this point, it’ll be a surprise if he doesn’t make one by Thursday night.

And it won’t be for lack of trying.

Putting aside the talk of pursuing Portland superstar Damian Lillard if he ever truly became available, it’s no secret the Nets are actively trying to move up in the draft Thursday night at Barclays Center.

Recent workouts tipped their hand on that.

The Post has reported that veteran 3-and-D wings Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale have been dangled everywhere from Los Angeles to Cleveland.

“They’re talking to teams about firsts for Dorian,” a league source told NetsDaily on Wednesday morning. “Same for Royce. Trying to take 21 and 22 with one of those guys to move up.”

That source wouldn’t or couldn’t say exactly what prospect the Nets were after, saying “no idea.” It’s even unclear if they are targeting a specific player or simply feel the draft pool drops off dramatically after a certain point.

But after The Post reported they had done their due diligence by checking in with at least four teams sitting between 10 and 16 in the draft, now comes reports they may have spoken with No. 17 as well.

While the Cavaliers are reportedly interested in adding one of those Nets wings, they don’t have a first-round pick until next year.

The Lakers’ No. 17 selection, however, is up for grabs (along with Mo Bamba, Malik Beasley or both), and The Athletic linked them with both O’Neale and Finney-Smith.

The Nets, who often work out between 60-70 prospects before the draft, have been known to bring in prospects at the last minute.

That’s one of the fringe benefits of hosting the draft at their home arena, Barclays Center.

But the fact that they worked out Dereck Lively II, according to ESPN, is telling.

Barring a catastrophic slide Thursday, the Duke center is expected to be long gone by the time the Nets are scheduled to pick.

He was tapped 10th in the latest ESPN mock draft, another indicator the Nets may try to move up.

Every other year, Marks has taken a center prospect…