Bates-Diop was a fringe prospect for three years, but has exploded in his senior campaign. Averaging 19.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, the lanky forward is currently the primary option on an Ohio State team that’s aiming for a tournament birth in March.
Really, this is the perfect Nets pick. At 6-foot-7, KBD is freakishly long and provides ample versatiliy on the defensive end. He’s also hitting on 36.6 percent of his threes, which is his highest mark since coming off the bench for 10 minutes per game his freshman year. That, combined with crafty scoring around the interior, should give Bates-Diop first round appeal.
The Nets get another long body and an elite defensive profile late in the first round. He’s somebody who’s capable of contributing valuable minutes right away, although the Nets’ rotation may not allow that.