Nets Receive Solid Grade Selecting Iowa State Basketball Star

However, the selection was viewed positively by analysts and evaluators. One of the people who thought Brooklyn did well was John Hollinger of The Athletic (subscription required), who gave the selection a “B” grade.

“I didn’t have a first-round grade on Jefferson, but the Nets may have inadvertently made a solid draft pick…The Nets are also basically devoid of his player archetype, save for the soon-to-arrive and possibly-not-there-for-long Julius Randle,” he wrote.

There is a lot to like about Jefferson’s game, but it is fair to wonder if the Nets are the right team to get the most out of him. His perimeter shooting needs work, but his form is excellent to work with.

Despite his limitations athletically, he thinks through the game and processes things at such a high level that he can overcome his shortcomings with his high basketball IQ. The tools are certainly there for him to become an above-average rotation player, the kind of glue guy that every successful team has.

He is a versatile defender, using his size and strength to his advantage on the interior, while his intelligence helps him read plays before they happen to gain an edge on the perimeter.

The ultimate connector on both ends of the floor, he may not have the highest ceiling, but he can help a team raise its floor considerably.

Will that kind of skill set get used to the fullest in Brooklyn? Only time will tell, but since he will turn 23 years old early in the 2026-27 campaign, time unfortunately isn’t on his side from a developmental standpoint.