Cam Thomas can score with the best of them. That’s not a question. But even the most gifted isolation scorers need some sort of structure whether it be floor spacing, smart movement, and off-ball threats who keep defenses honest. That’s where Chaz Lanier fits in. Not as a headline-grabber, but as the kind of under-the-radar draft pick who makes everything around your scorers just a little bit easier, and a lot more efficient.
At 23 years old, Lanier doesn’t come with the “upside” hype as some of the younger prospects. But what he does bring to the table is a sense of clarity. After three quiet seasons at North Florida, he exploded as a senior, then doubled down on that breakout by proving himself again while playing for the Tennessee Volunteers. In his last year he finished his college career shooting 40% from three, while averaging 18 points per game, and became one of the most efficient scoring guards in the country.
He is not a one trick pony
Lanier isn’t just a shooter. He’s a spacing specialist. He thrives off-ball, relocating, cutting, pulling defenders out of position, and he forces defensive rotations every time he moves. In that sense, he’s tailor-made to play next to a player like Cam Thomas, who does his best work with space to operate and defenses scrambling.
The numbers back it up. Lanier had a record breaking 123 three pointers made in his final year and finished second overall in aggregate shooting at the NBA Combine. Overall he is a consistent, movement-based shooter who understands timing and spacing at a veteran level.
He won’t run your offense or anchor your defense. But he doesn’t need to. At 6'4" with a 6'9" wingspan, he has the tools to hold his own defensively with time. And offensively, he already plays like a role player in a playoff rotation, efficient, low-maintenance, and deadly if left open.
For Brooklyn, holding the 36th pick, the goal shouldn’t be swinging for the fences. It should be finding pieces that complement the talent already in place. Lanier fits that vision. He is a mature, pro-ready shooter who brings value without needing the ball, and gives Cam Thomas more room to be who he is.
At the end of the day, Chaz Lanier may not have the flashiest path, but he’s already done the hard part: figuring out how to impact winning without having to dominate the ball. For a team like the Nets, that’s not just useful, it’s necessary.