SBNation NBA Mock Draft, Pick #11: New Jersey Nets

by Scott Schroeder on Jun 17, 2025 3:15 PM EDT in NBA Draft 2009 Comment 9 comments

With the eleventh pick in the 2009 SBNation Mock Draft, the New Jersey Nets, represented by RU's very own Aisander "IcemanCometh" Duda because I don't know any Nets fans/bloggers, select... (Drum Roll please)

For the 11th pick in the 2009 SBNation Mock Draft, the New Jersey Nets select.... Jonny Flynn!!! Hi there Nets fans, I'm Aisander Duda aka IcemanCometh, a long time reader/commenter on Ridiculous Upside and many of the other wonderful SBN blogs. Because no Nets blog exists within our network and Scott couldn't find anyone else who is a Nets fan (presumably they've all moved to Brooklyn), I've taken the reins for this mock draft pick.

Jonny "I'm Basically Canadian" Flynn is an easy choice here. Just check out who the Nets had in their line-up last year:

PG - Devin Harris / Keyon Dooling
SG - Vince Carter / Chris Douglas-Roberts / Trenton Hassell
SF - Bobby Simmons / Jarvis Hayes / Maurice Ager
PF - Yi Jianlian / Sean Williams / Ryan Anderson / Eduardo Najera
C - Brook Lopez / Josh Boone

I think it's relatively safe to say that they are pretty set at SG, as Vince Carter showed signs of giving a rats ass for the first time in years during the 2008-09 season, Chris Douglas-Roberts had a decent rookie campaign and Trent Hassell's lifeless body showed up occasionally too. The PF/C rotation is looking nice as well. The Nets boast a wonderfully young and energetic frontcourt, featuring rookie standout Brook Lopez, Josh Boone, future bust/decent player Yi Jianlian, and future Zach Randolph prototype Sean Williams. Needless to say, there is a lot of youth and size already on this squad, which kind of creates a backlog for any possible draft choice taller than 6-6.

Despite his best efforts, Keyon Dooling is not the answer as a back-up PG. And unless the Nets' brass plan on playing Harris for 46 minutes a game and drafting yet another wing player for Vince Carter to cuss out in practice, they desperately need another playmaker coming off the bench. This selection also opens up the possiblity of the Nets going small with a line up of Flynn/Harris/Carter/Yi/Anderson (or Williams).

It's for this reason that I have selected Jonny Flynn over the likes of James Johnson, Austin "I'm basically 14" Daye, and DeJuan Blair. Flynn is a fast, strong, and an active playmaker/scorer. He brings some stellar court vision and handling with him to the New Jersey (Brooklyn) Nets, which is exactly what they need off the bench behind Harris. He may be one of the shorter PGs availble at this spot, measuring out just above 5'11" at the combine. But his wingspan (6'4"), speed (10.86 Agility drill), and athleticism (40" Max Vertical) make him much more desirable than then other lot of almost-not-quite-6-foot wonders.

So there you go Nets Nation (all 6 of you reading this), your selection for the 2009 SBN mock draft is Jonny Flynn and his huge, playmaking guns.

The 2009 SB Nation Mock Draft thus far:

1. Los Angeles Clippers - Clips Nation: Blake Griffin

2. Memphis Grizzlies - 3 Shades of Blue: Ricky Rubio

3. Oklahoma City Thunder - Welcome to Loud City: James Harden

4. Sacramento Kings - Sactown Royalty: Tyreke Evans

5. Washington Wizards - Bullets Forever: Hasheem Thabeet

6. Minnesota Timberwolves - Canis Hoopus: Stephen Curry

7. Golden State Warriors - Golden State of Mind: Brandon Jennings

8. New York Knicks - Posting and Toasting: Jrue Holiday

9. Toronto Raptors - Holly MacKenzie: DeMar DeRozan

10. Milwaukee Bucks - BrewHoop: Jordan Hill

0 recs | Comment 9 comments | Add comment |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Read More: Jonny Flynn (G - Syracuse), New Jersey Nets

Comments

Boo!

He has to fall to #20!
Please?

Just curious… what about the SF rotation?
Is Simmons/Hayes/Ager really the answer?

True Blue Jazz
Bucco Ball
I'm on Twitter
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09

by UtesFan89 on Jun 17, 2025 4:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No certainly not.

But the kicker here is that I can see Yi sliding over to the 3 on occasion, also VC and Chris D-R could play 2-3 interchangably. The frontcourt depth 3/4 tweeners are pretty numerous on the Nets. I just couldn’t think of a pure SF that makes sense at 11. James Johnson was a strong consideration, but I think the Nets should go for a playmaker here, someone to bolster Harris and make the 3-4-5 rotation work with a couple of their tweeners. I can forsee a trade for them as well, getting another guy to fill the starting SF spot.

by IcemanCometh on Jun 17, 2025 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.

I’m just wondering if taking a PG early in the first round makes sense given that Harris is still young.
That said, the Nets don’t really need anything else. Like the pick.

Ok, I’ll admit it… I’m just afraid all the guys I like will be gone by #20, and I’m scared. And this would be the 2nd straight year the Nets would take the guy I wanted for the Jazz (Ryan Anderson last year) if this happened.

True Blue Jazz
Bucco Ball
I'm on Twitter
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09

by UtesFan89 on Jun 17, 2025 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really have a hard time seeing Jonny Drop to #20

He’d have to get hit with Blair-esque health concerns last minute for his stock to knock him out of the top 15.

by IcemanCometh on Jun 17, 2025 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I know

sad really.

Speaking of Blair, what’s up with him? Is he still a 1st rounder?

True Blue Jazz
Bucco Ball
I'm on Twitter
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09

by UtesFan89 on Jun 17, 2025 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but from what I've heard

he’s moving out of the lottery and into the 16-25 range. Which is really hard to believe. Someone will get a steal with him. His stock is all over the place.

by IcemanCometh on Jun 17, 2025 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

IC... I love ya but....

I hate this pick. Point guard is the position that you are most solid at. Dev Harris is dirty and hits game winning half court shots on the reg that break my tiny little sixer fan heart. If you need a backup point guard, there will be plenty of undrafted guys to fill that role (Josh Akognon, Jack McClinton, Jeremy Pargo, Dominic James) for a couple minutes a night.

I look at the small forward spot, and it makes me get all tingly inside knowing you’re in the atlantic division and we can have Thad Young at rover while Bobby Simmons/Maurice Ager/Jarvis Hayes play pattycake with the family sitting courtside. You need a 3, man. Lebron’s points won’t count for you for a year or two, so it’s gotta be James Johnson, Earl Clark, or even reaching for Terrence Williams here. I like CDR, and I think he’s even capable of starting someday, but you gotta go 3 here.

President and Personal Escort of the Gerry McNamara Fan Club

by TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsMichaelBourn on Jun 18, 2025 1:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

See I debated that exact line of thinking....

and came up with a clusterf*** at the SF position. I think you make a solid point, in that the SF is definitely a position of need. The only issue is that this rotation seems to be in flux, with a lot of guys that can play multiple position. Does Yi play 3 or 4? Does CDR play exclusively 2, or can he handle the 3 too?

The issue I had with drafting Johnson and Clark was that they would essentially replicate Yi what brings to the table (no, not just a whole lotta suck). Basically Johnson and Clark aer guys with the size and skill ability to play PF, trying also to play SF. You could force those guys to play on the perimeter at the beginning of their careers, but they seem more suited to play inside/out ala Lamar Odom. Clark doesn’t have great shooting range to play three and can you imagine the confusion of playing a Clark/Yi/Lopez at 3-4-5? That just seem to jive in my eyes.

So I’ll agree with you that their need is SF, but I couldn’t see either of the SF on the board really meshing well with that line up. So I went with what I assumed their other need to be back-up PG. Yes Harris is balls good, but who is to say that Jonny Flynn couldn’t be equally good in bench minutes?

by IcemanCometh on Jun 18, 2025 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Some validity

But I just think that you don’t use a lottery pick to take a backup. It’s not like Harris is old or wants to get out of town. He’s probably your best player.

I think Clark and Johnson’s versatility shouldn’t be held against them here. They are both capable of playing both forward positions, and while I think Clark is better talent-wise (and more suited to play the 3), Johnson is a good kid and weighs more like a PF. So if you’d rather see Yi’s pencil-thin body on the wing, JJ can bang down low (ew) and you’d have a sort of 3-4-5 front court with Anderson off the bench. I’d say that’s formidable.

I don’t think CDR is your answer at the 3, although he can take some minutes there. VC is getting up in years and you don’t know how long he’ll hang around or if he’s traded. Terrence Williams would work even if it’s early for him. I just think it’d be like a football team with a stud QB drafting one in the first round because a WR they’d need is built like a TE. Gotta go with a wing here.

President and Personal Escort of the Gerry McNamara Fan Club

by TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsMichaelBourn on Jun 18, 2025 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs