The Brooklyn Nets are not just rebuilding for the sake of rebuilding, they are searching for structure, to help them be competitive for the long-term. Currently the team has got some intriguing wings, a capable frontcourt, a butt-load of cap space, and a treasure chest of first-round picks. But that being said, one big problem remains….they have no one to hold it all together. That is why they should look to go after Kasparas Jakucionis in the upcoming 2025 draft.
What Jakucionis brings to the table:
At 6-foot-5 with a near 6’8 wingspan the Lithuanian guard is built like a modern NBA initiator. But what separates him is how he thinks about the game. He brings feel, poise, and composure that jump off the film, he already has the ability to find windows most young guards can’t even recognize.
The Nets currently own the 8th pick in the 2025 draft. Although the pick is pretty high up on the board, that still might not be enough to land a talented guy like Jakucionis. But here is the thing, they will have four first-rounders to help them work something out. They have the capital to move up the board. If they identify Jakucionis as the long-term organizer this roster needs, there is no reason to sit still.
This is not only about drafting for fit. It is about building a foundation.
Brooklyn has not had a true lead guard since the early days of D’Angelo Russell. Since then, it has been a chaotic carousel. They had Kyrie Irving briefly during their superstar era, Dennis Schröder for a short-term fix, Ben Simmons who was mostly unavailable, and then they even went back to an older veteran version of D-lo that just is not the same guy he once was. Even Cam Thomas can fill it up, but sadly for the Nets he just is not a floor general. Last season the team went out to get Mikal Bridges who is for sure versatile, but moved on from him as he was not a natural initiator. Without a lead playmaker, the Nets have been relying on isolation and improvisation for way too long.
Jakucionis could change that. He is not just a passer, he is a developing three-level scorer. He gets to his spots, has a reliable step-back from three, and finishes well through contact. Sure, he will need to clean up the turnovers and continue refining his defense. But what he offers is the ability to dictate pace, organize offense, and bring coherence to a young roster which has been something that is super rare, especially in Brooklyn.