Nets buy their way into the second round of NBA Draft and select Markel Brown at #44

The Brooklyn Nets went into last nights draft without a single pick but were confident that they could buy their way into the draft if and they did just that.

Midway through the second round Billy King decided to strike so the Nets acquired the draft rights to the 44th pick, Markel Brown of Oklahoma State, from the Minnesota Timberwolves  in exchange for cash considerations.  It has been reported that Nets paid $1.1 million to acquire the 44th pick.

Thank you to the Brooklyn Nets organization for giving me this golden opportunity

— Markel Brown (@iMarkelBrown22) June 27, 2014

#Nets GM @bkdefend in the draft room on the phone with @iMarkelBrown22. pic.twitter.com/8NeGoQOkXC

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) June 27, 2014

Brown averaged 17.2 points, 2.9 assists, 5.3 boards and 1.0 steals his senior year at Oklahoma State..  Brown is labeled as an “elite athlete” according to many NBA pundits who scouted him.

Scouts say:

Outstanding athlete with incredible leaping ability (43.5” 2-step vert at the Combine) Is a pretty swift runner with good start/stop ability … Should come with a warning label, “Highly Explosive” … Was a mainstay on highlight reels because of his dunking ability, and was one of the very best dunkers in college basketball last year … Brown’s outstanding leaping ability and jump shooting are his main calling cards as a prospect at the moment … He enjoyed a standout 4-year career at Oklahoma State, developing into a steady, all-conference performer in a pretty tough league his last 2 years and made big strides in his shooting ability … His ball-handling needs work and his lack of size does him no favors.

You can view Markel Brown’s Draft Combine interview here:

Some of you should remember the highlights below.