ESPN's Marc Stein has word on the latest theory making the NBA rounds, and it involves an explanation of why the Nets may select Syracuse swingman Wesley Johnson--and not Derrick Favors or DeMarcus Cousins, the two top-tier big men in the draft--with the third overall pick in Thursday's Draft:
Multiple teams have passed along their belief to ESPN.com that the Nets have serious interest in Johnson at No. 3 largely because they believe it will help them land Utah’s Carlos Boozer in free agency.
New Jersey’s main position of emphasis once the free-agent market opens July 1 is power forward, with the Nets possessing an estimated $27 million in salary-cap space and with Brook Lopez and Devin Harris entrenched at center and point guard.
The connection between Johnson and Boozer? They're both represented by the same agent: Rob Pelinka.
The selection of Johnson would be a strong tip-off, sources say, that New Jersey will be chasing Boozer hardest when free agency commences, ahead of potential targets such as Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire.
For what it's worth--and it should be worth something, given his track record--Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress posted this message on his Twitter account this morning, saying the Nets will undoubtedly take Johnson.