The Nets woke up Wednesday morning with the 21st, 22nd and 51st overall picks in the NBA draft.
Chances are they won’t go to bed Thursday having made all of them.
This is always general manager Sean Marks’ deal-making time.
He traded the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Brook Lopez, for D’Angelo Russell just two days before the draft. With the exception of last season — partly handcuffed by uncertainty over Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving — Marks has made a move within 48 hours of every draft since he joined the Nets back in 2016.
At this point, it’ll be a surprise if he doesn’t make one by Thursday night.
And it won’t be for lack of trying.
Putting aside the talk of pursuing Portland superstar Damian Lillard if he ever truly became available, it’s no secret the Nets are actively trying to move up in the draft Thursday night at Barclays Center.
Recent workouts tipped their hand on that.
The Post has reported that veteran 3-and-D wings Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale have been dangled everywhere from Los Angeles to Cleveland.
“They’re talking to teams about firsts for Dorian,” a league source told NetsDaily on Wednesday morning. “Same for Royce. Trying to take 21 and 22 with one of those guys to move up.”
That source wouldn’t or couldn’t say exactly what prospect the Nets were after, saying “no idea.” It’s even unclear if they are targeting a specific player or simply feel the draft pool drops off dramatically after a certain point.
But after The Post reported they had done their due diligence by checking in with at least four teams sitting between 10 and 16 in the draft, now comes reports they may have spoken with No. 17 as well.
While the Cavaliers are reportedly interested in adding one of those Nets wings, they don’t have a first-round pick until next year.
The Lakers’ No. 17 selection, however, is up for grabs (along with Mo Bamba, Malik Beasley or both), and The Athletic linked them with both O’Neale and Finney-Smith.
The Nets, who often work out between 60-70 prospects before the draft, have been known to bring in prospects at the last minute.
That’s one of the fringe benefits of hosting the draft at their home arena, Barclays Center.
But the fact that they worked out Dereck Lively II, according to ESPN, is telling.
Barring a catastrophic slide Thursday, the Duke center is expected to be long gone by the time the Nets are scheduled to pick.
He was tapped 10th in the latest ESPN mock draft, another indicator the Nets may try to move up.
Every other year, Marks has taken a center prospect to back up — and in some cases, eventually supplant — his starter.
There was Jarrett Allen in 2017, Nic Claxton in the second round two years after that and Day’Ron Sharpe two years ago.
Allen became a centerpiece of the Harden trade (and an All-Star), while Claxton is the current starter and Most Improved Player candidate.
Lively could be next — but likely only with a trade up. Meanwhile, the Nets have hosted multiple workouts for Olivier-Maxence Prosper, per The Athletic, which projected the Nets taking the Marquette wing in its mock draft.
Will Weaver is joining head coach Jacque Vaughn’s staff, per the Nets.
The addition to the staff of Kevin Ollie, Jay Hernandez, Ronnie Burrell and Corey Vinson had already been reported.
Holdover Adam Caporn has stepped into the role of director of player development, a job which has been vacant since Durant’s friend, Adam Harrington, left at the start of last season.
Daniel Jones, the head of strength and conditioning, has returned to Australia. Ollie is expected to be Vaughn’s top assistant, according to NetsDaily.
Nets draft predictions
Brian Lewis’ projected first-round picks by the Nets in the 2023 NBA draft:
No. 21: Noah Clowney, power forward, Alabama
The Nets have been trying to move up, and Clowney is the kind of prospect they may covet.
If he falls to them without having to trade, it would be their good fortune and an easy pick.
No. 22: Keyonte George, shooting guard, Baylor
The Nets need shot creation, and Smith could provide that — albeit down the road as a developmental pick — if they stand pat at No. 22.
