NBA teams are scrambling to get in all of their workouts with the draft just a short two weeks away. It's a time of falling in love with players in a workout that you never cared for in games and then sending smokescreens to anyone that is willing to pay attention.
For the New Jersey Nets, there task has and will remain the same: find players in the draft that can immediately help Deron Williams make it to the playoffs next season. As owner Mikhail Prokhorov, GM Billy King and head coach Avery Johnson do everything they can to convince the point guard to sign a long term extension when he is able, giving him more weapons will go a long way to making that happen. The only way to do that right now is via the draft.
In the latest installment of the SB Nation NBA Mock Draft, Tom Ziller provides comparable players to each pick, including a rather unflattering one for his projected Nets selection.
27. New Jersey Nets: Darius Morris, PG, Michigan
Even in a down draft, if the Nets come away with a fringe NBA player, it will be a major whiff by King.
I've been saying from the beginning of this process that I don't mind if New Jersey decides to go with a point guard, but the better fit would be someone with more of a scoring mentality. If they want someone to come in and just not embarrass themselves, they can just stick with Ben Uzoh.
You should fully expect this pick -- and any others they pick up on draft night -- to have more experience than the two years Morris brings to the table. He will also be more of a scorer if he's a guard/swing or a monster rebounder if he plans to play in the front court.