DRAFT GRADES: Mostly A’s and B’s for Nets picks

When Zach Lowe asked Jeremy Woo, who helped compile ESPN’s mock draft, who he thought did a good job on Thursday night, he was quick with the response…

“I like what Brooklyn did, ending staying at both 21 and 22, and going superyoung, taking two teenagers who don’t need to play right away,” said Woo.

He was of course referring to the Nets picks of Noah Clowney, the 6’10” Alabama big, at No. 21, and Dariq Whitehead, the 6’7” Duke wing, at 22. How young are they? Whitehead who doesn’t turn 19 till August 1 is the youngest Nets pick ever, while Clowney will still be 18 till July 15, making him the third youngest ever, behind Derrick Favors who the Nets took in 2010 while still in New Jersey. The Nets took Jalen Wilson, another wing out of Kansas, as well. He’s the greybeard of the trio at 22.

Woo wasn’t the only draftnik who thought Sean Marks & co. did well in what is considered one of the strongest drafts in years, topped by Victor Wembanyama, the 7’5” French freak. Looking around the web, we see a lot of A’s and B’s being recorded in the grade book.

In general, where outlets broke out the picks rather than providing an overall grade, Whitehead got higher mark in all but one case. And in each of those cases, the Whitehead won an A. In only one case did Whitehead get a lower grade, a C+ from Yahoo! Sports — based on his injury history. It was also the lowest grade any of the Nets picks received.

Here’s a sample:

With back-to-back picks late in the first round, the Nets took two of the draft’s youngest players. (Whitehead, who turns 19 in August, was the youngest drafted in the first round; Clowney was third.) Whitehead went a little earlier than expected but still well after my projections would have had him (11th) on the strength of his age and EYBL play. Clowney is a good fit for a team lacking size up front, while Wilson has the skills to stick as a role player on the wing.

21. Noah Clowney, 6’10” PF, Alabama, B-

The Nets address a need in the frontcourt with Clowney, a young project big who, at first blush, has many modern tools at his disposal. He has a smooth-looking standstill jump shot with range out to the NBA 3-point line, a great lunch-pail mentality on defense, and quick leaping ability. But the full picture is quite theoretical, and there is some rigidity in his hips and lateral movement that may lock him into the 5 position despite having the ideal size for a 4. The pathways to becoming a really good player are there for Clowney. And the Nets, both young and competitive, will likely have the patience to see that development through.

22. Dariq Whitehead, 6’7” SF, Duke, A

With their first pick, the Nets drafted for need; with their second, they bet on pure talent—a player who was once thought of as a potential top-five…