NBA Tanking Teams WIll Complicate Philadelphia 76ers 2016 Draft

Brooklyn Nets Becoming Have Nots

This is a team falling on the basketball court, but whose first round pick is solely and unprotected in the hands of the Boston Celtics. OUCH!  But it was not always this way for the Brooklyn nets, whose 44 wins in the 2013-2014 season were good enough for the playoffs, and whose 38 win performance last season returned them to the playoffs.  So perhaps, it was forgiveable for the team to trade their first round draft pick without anticipating its true value.

Brooklyn packaged the pick unprotected in the trade for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry.  In fact, at the time, the trade was believed to put the Nets over the top.

"“Today, the basketball gods smiled on the Nets. With the arrival of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, we have achieved a great balance on our roster between veteran stars and young talents. This team will be dazzling to watch, and tough to compete against. We are excited to welcome Kevin, Paul and Jason to Brooklyn. All three players have championship pedigree and posses the veteran qualities that will make us a stronger team.” – Nets Principal Owner Mikhail Prokhorov announcing the trade"

Ah, the plans of men. None of the coveted players remain on the Nets roster less than three years after the deal that sent three first round picks to the Boston Celtics. Pierce left after a year. Garnett was a pale shade of himself, and Terry was traded to the Sacramento Kings.

"“Not having the picks, you’ve got to figure out other ways to get it, second-round picks. If you don’t have picks, you just get young guys.We took our shot and it didn’t work. And now to see some of these guys develop and to get it back and for us to have the cap space [next summer], we can do it pretty quickly. We want to win but we knew we may take a step back when some of the decisions were made. But what I like is we’ve put ourselves in the position to beat a Golden State, we just didn’t make the right plays. That’s just learning how to win. We’re talking the steps.” – Nets general manager Billy King bravely facing future"

As the Brooklyn Nets get weaker, the Boston Celtic become stronger. Not only do the Celtics own the Nets first round picks in 2016 and 2018, but they have a right to swap first round picks in 2017. If the Nets cannot find talent deep in the draft and in the development league, they risk not only falling further than the Philadlephia 76ers this season, but may struggle to turn the corner for many years to come.

Next: Sacramento Kings