Today’s Brooklyn Nets news features summer acquisition Timofey Mozgov delivers in the Russian season opener and ESPN talk on next year’s first round pick.
The Brooklyn Nets traded center Brook Lopez for guard D’Angelo Russell and big man Timofey Mozgov back before the draft.
Mozgov recently debuted for the Russian national team and put on an impressive performance.
In a 76-73 win over Turkey on Thursday, Mozgov scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked two shots.
If Mozgov can bring this kind of presence in the paint to the Brooklyn Nets, he might live up to his pricey contract.
Last season with the Lakers, the big Russian averaged 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
Currently set as next year’s starting center—barring any further additions—Nets fans will be watching the rest of Mozgov’s FIBA highlights with heavy anticipation.
Russia will play their next game against Serbia, Saturday at 5 PM GMT.
Late Wednesday, the Boston Celtics agreed to trade the Nets 2018 first-round pick to Cleveland in a package for point guard Kyrie Irving.
NBA Twitter blew up, claiming that the Cavaliers were clear cut winners of the trade. Some fans were calling Brooklyn’s pick a potential top-three selection.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN disagrees, making his case on a recent podcast.
“That Brooklyn pick, we can debate where it’s going to be, debate where it’s going to be,” Woj told Marks. “They won’t be the worst team in the east this year. They could be better than Chicago, they could be beter than Atlanta. The one thing you know is that that team is going to play hard. They’re going to be in games. Kenny Atkinson showed that. I don’t think that’s an overall No. 1 or No. 2 pick.”
Set to play with a chip on their shoulder, the Nets can rest easy with the faith of NBA genius Wojnarowski on their side.
With the postseason set as their next season goal, the 2018 pick could easily fall out of the top five, though unlikely.
Players and fans alike agree that Brooklyn will transcend their league worst 20-62 record from last year. The Cavaliers are hoping they don’t.