Has 2023 First Round Pick Shown Enough To Be Major Part Of Brooklyn Nets Future?

Has Brooklyn Nets 2023 first-round draft pick Noah Clowney shown enough to be a major part of the Nets rebuild ? Brooklyn entered the season with an eye toward next season following their failed experiment of going all in for a championship.

The Nets have long been considered to be sellers this season as they gear up for a major rebuild starting this summer.

Brooklyn got the ball rolling early with the Mikal Bridges trade, pulling in a five-first-round draft pick haul from New York .

The Nets then netted two-round picks and perhaps a trade asset in DeAnthony Melton s salary from Golden State or Dennis Schroder .

Plenty of NBA rumors are swirling about Cam Johnson , Dorian Finney-Smith , and maybe Bojan Bogdanovic may not be in Brooklyn much longer.

Has the 2023 First Round Pick Done Enough To Be Part Of Brooklyn Nets Future? Despite all the turmoil, Brooklyn (12-18) played good basketball through the first 19 games.

While the Nets have had some injury issues throughout the season, they have been really snake-bitten over the last dozen games.

Since Cam Thomas went down with a hamstring injury, the Nets have posted a 12-18 record with a -8.4 scoring differential.

More significantly, only two Nets Keon Johnson and Shake Milton played in all 12 contests, and six have made 10 or more appearances.

In total, coach Jordi Fernandez has played 17 guys over this 12-game stretch.

There is a silver lining to all of Brooklyns injuries: Fernandez has gotten an extended look at the Nets youngsters.

Jalen Wilson , Tyrese Martin , DayRon Sharpe , Dariq Whitehead , Johnson, and Clowney have all received extended minutes over this stretch.

Clowney, Martin and Sharpe has been the players who have taken advantage of their extra chances.

While Sharpe may be the most talented of the trio, the Nets know who the 23-year-old is.

So, it is more important for Clowney to get some run.

Who Is Noah Clowney? Clowney was a surprise first-round pick last year, as the Nets selected him with the No.

21 selection after just one season at Alabama.

He wasnt great in his lone season with the Crimson Tide, but the Nets chose the then-18-year-old due to his athleticism, upside, shooting, and defensive potential.

Age, inconsistency, and limited off-the-dribble skill suggest Clowney is a few years away, said Bleacher Reports Jonathan Wasserman in his scouting report of Clowney on 2023 draft day.

But the combination of 610 size, shooting range, shot-blocking, and active rebounding still create an enticing, valued archetype for patient coaches.

Clowney, who showed some glimpses of his potential during the 2023-24 preseason, was slowed by injuries early in his rooking season.

The 6-9 forward began his career in the G-League (on November 10) and didnt appear in a game for Brooklyn until the end of November.

As was the plan, Clowney spent most of the time in the G-League with the Long Island Nets, though he was shuffled back and forth between teams.

He was good but not great with Long Island, but most importantly, he got experience.

Clowney played on occasion with Brooklyn last season, though it was sporadic.

However, he had an impressive run at the end of the season, during which he received regular minutes.

Improvement Clowney worked hard on his game after the season, and it paid dividends immediately.

He showed improvement in efficiency during the 2024 Las Vegas Summer League action and continued to develop his overall game through training camp and the preseason.

Clowney began the season as the Nets fourth big.

He has steadily become more productive and consistent throughout the season.

Clowney has been excellent over the last four games after putting up a stinker against Cleveland on December 16.

As he has seen an increase in playing time, Clowney has scored in double figures and grabbed at least four boards in each of these recent contests.

My main goal since the Cleveland game has been to be better energy-wise for my team , Clowney told New York Posts Brian Lewis.

A lot of body language issues I had, and Im trying to be an energy-giver.

I feel like I was told [theres] no neutral energy.

Its either bad or good.

So try to give good energy.

So thats been my main goal regarding how I play.

[You] make shots sometimes, you dont make shots sometimes.

Do what you can on the defensive end.

Just try to control what you can .

Over the last 10 games, Clowney has averaged 11.2 points, 2.6 threes, and 4.1 boards, with shooting splits of 46.3/41.9/76.9.

He has reached double-digits seven times, tallying 39 points on 13 of 23 shooting over the last two contests.

Yeah, hes been able to shoot regardless, playing at the perimeter spot or a five, Fernandez said about Clowneys ability.

And the good thing is the versatility.

One of the coaches I worked for said the more spots you can play, the more minutes youll be able to play or fight for.

So right now, just his versatility of playing the five at times, but also playing whatever one-through-four, or two-through-four that just allows him to be on the court.

If he can guard one through five, then there are even more possibilities for minutes of rebounding.

Hes doing a great job.

Hes really helping himself, but most importantly, is helping the team.

Clowney Should Be Franchise Cornerstone Clowney is just 20 years old and still has a lot of untapped potential.

He is potentially under team control for two more years.

The Nets have already exercised his third-year option, and he has until the start of next season to do the same for his fourth season.

If the Nets do so, which seems like a guarantee at this point, they can offer him a rookie scale extension during his last season.

It will be interesting to see how exactly Nets general manager Sean Marks plays the rebuild.

The Nets projects to have $77 million in cap space available.

Marks will likely eat into a little of that with trades before the February deadline.

Anyway, Marks will likely rebuild the right way and not overreach for an overpriced veteran under the need to compete guise.

Im not saying Marks shouldnt search for a star or rising star in his trades or free agency, but his approach has to be judicial.

Moreover, Clowney should be at least a top seven or eight rotation player, if not a starter, for the Nets.

If he continues to develop, Clowney has the potential to be a solid starting role player at worst.

Clowney needs to improve his finishing at the rim, as he is well below average in that department this year.

He also needs to improve his efficiency, which likely means attempting less than 70% of his shots from deep and finishing through contact.

Additionally, he needs to improve defensively, especially in cutting down on fouls.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission..

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