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Getty Trayce Jackson-Davis rises to the slam.
The Brooklyn Nets’ season is officially over after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics. Now that the Nets are officially out of the title shot, the organization has focused on the NBA draft. The Nets had as good a draft as they could get in 2021, picking Cam Thomas and Kessler Edwards, both players who were in the starting lineup for the Nets at some point this season. General Manager Sean Marks and the Nets front office are hoping for a replay in the 2022 NBA Draft.
According to The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer, Brooklyn has already started hosting draft-prep workouts.
“The source tells me that yesterday the networks worked out Georgetown warden Aminu Mohammed,” Schiffer said on May 9 via his Twitter account. [I] I was told Brooklyn also had Nebraska’s Bryce McGowens, Indiana’s Trace Jackson-Davis, Alabama’s Keon Ellis, and G League Ignite’s Michael Foster.”
I was told Brooklyn also had Nebraska’s Bryce McGowens, Indiana’s Trace Jackson-Davis, Alabama’s Keon Ellis, and G League Ignite’s Michael Foster.
– Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) 10. Mai 2022
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Trayce Jackson-Davis could return to school
Perhaps the most notable name on the list of players the Nets have hosted is Indiana Hoosier Trayce Jackson-Davis. In 2022, Jackson-Davis averaged 18.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.9 assists in 35 games. He became only the second player in program history to have at least 1,500 points, 750 rebounds and 150 blocks in his career. According to Rookie Wire.
The Indiana star officially entered the NBA draft on April 9th. After suffering a 53-82 loss to Cinderella team Saint Mary’s in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Star Guard is not ruling out a return to college.
“The 6-foot-9 forward declared for the draft on April 9 but left open the option to return to school,” writes Cody Taylor, per Rookie Wire. “He’s not scheduled to be drafted at this time, but now has an opportunity to improve his standing among Combine executives and scouts. Jackson-Davis has until June 1 to withdraw from the draft and return to school.”
The Nets were able to find some gems late in last year’s NBA draft. With even more picks this year from the Philadelphia 76ers in the James Harden trade, they could have an even more impressive rookie class next season.
Michael Foster wants to transform himself as a player
Michael Foster might just be the latest product to come to the NBA from the G-League Ignite. In 2021, Houston Rockets standout rookie Jalen Green was selected as number two overall after spending a season with Ignite.
In 2022, Foster averaged 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in the G-League. And as he prepares to move to the NBA, the 19-year-old says his next goal is to transform as a player.
“I want to push myself as much as possible, I want to change my body. How I look, speed, shot, grips. tighten everything. Defense, just become a whole new player. I have what, a month and a half or two? There are no days off,” Foster told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel during NBA All-Star Weekend in February 2022.
“It’s not balance for me. Your body will go as far as your body allows. As a player I want to be as good as possible, I have to push it and see where my body takes me.”
The Nets were able to find some gems late in last year’s NBA draft. With even more picks this year from the Philadelphia 76ers in the James Harden trade, they could have an even more impressive rookie class next season.
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