2018 NBA Mock Draft: The summer is decision time
Chandler Hutchison. 28. player. 147. . G/F. Boise State
Looking over the roster, it looks like it will be a matter of time before the Nets eventually target a marquee young wing in the draft or on the open market. The fringes of their core are taking shape, with players like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert blossoming this year with increased opportunity. Playing quickly and focusing on role over position has helped Brooklyn players add skills ahead of schedule, but in the NBA today there are too many wings to survive without a stopper.
Hutchison’s 7-foot wingspan is what stands out from a defensive perspective. The top wing defenders — the guys you’d trust guarding Kevin Durant with the game on the line — have many of the same attributes. They have freakishly long arms, which allows them to generate steals and barricade drives to the rim. You cannot get off an easy pass or shot against guys who are quick and fill space like Hutchison.
It’s easy to let the Nets off the hook by saying they’re not at the point where they should yet be using draft picks to fill needs. And that’s completely true. But they will finally own their first-round pick next year, meaning the endless rebuild may have an end in sight. Getting a guy at the league’s most valued position is not a bad idea.