The Day – Nets pick Thomas, acquire rights to Sharpe late in first round

New York — The Brooklyn Nets took LSU’s Cameron Thomas on Thursday night time with the No. 27 choose within the NBA draft, including the SEC’s main scorer to their high-powered roster.

“You may by no means have an excessive amount of scoring,” Thomas mentioned.

The Nets then added North Carolina heart Day’Ron Sharpe after agreeing to amass the rights to the No. 29 choose from Phoenix in a pending commerce.

Thomas averaged 23 factors final season as a freshman. Solely Pete Maravich, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (then nonetheless often known as Chris Jackson) and Bob Pettit ever averaged extra of their first seasons at LSU.

Thomas, who led the nation with 194 free throws made final season, would be a part of a roster that includes Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden that was second within the NBA with greater than 118 factors per recreation final season.

Normal supervisor Sean Marks favored Thomas’ confidence and perception in his capturing.

“The opposite a part of it’s, he’s fearless and he isn’t afraid, and I feel that’s what we’re searching for,” Marks mentioned. “We’re searching for guys which can be aggressive and have that edge to them and that chip on their shoulder.”

Thomas mentioned Harden is his favourite participant and he watched loads of Nets video games this season. Brooklyn hardly ever bought its three superstars on the ground collectively due to accidents, however now has one other participant who can present factors when a number of of the Large Three is out.

“I really feel like with me coming in and studying from these guys, scoring the ball-wise, it’s a match made in heaven,” Thomas mentioned. “I can’t wait to play with a few of my favourite gamers. It’s loopy.”

Thomas was the final participant remaining within the inexperienced room at Barclays Heart. Now he’ll be again in Brooklyn within the fall to play on the Nets’ residence flooring.

“We’re going to be successful video games. We’re going to be enjoying for one thing,” Thomas mentioned. “I really feel like that’s actually going to assist me out in my rookie 12 months, to have all that have, all of the expertise within the recreation.”

The 6-foot-11 Sharpe averaged 9.5 factors, 7.6 rebounds and 19.2 minutes or the Tar Heels.

The Nets took Pepperdine’s Kessler Edwards with the No. 44 choose, including a 6-8 ahead who can each block photographs and shoot 3-pointers. Then at No. 49 Brooklyn went with Marcus Zegarowski of Creighton. His older brother, Michael Carter-Williams, was the NBA Rookie of the Yr in 2014.

Brooklyn completed the night time by taking Raiquan Grey of Florida State with the No. 59 choose.