Isaiah

Whitehead

Whitehead last played for the Nets in 2017-18, but he logged just 180 minutes that season. He spent last year in the G League, averaging 18.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, and looks like a longshot to make an NBA roster.

Whitehead was a second-round pick in 2016 by the Nets. He had been playing in Russia this season. Minimal fantasy impact here, as Whiteside will likely spend the majority of 2019 in the G League.

“I see him as a ‘1' because he passes the ball well and I think he makes his teammates better,” Atkinson said. “But … with the way the NBA is, versatility is key. I think it’s huge that he can definitely slide over and play some ‘2' with his size and his ability to guard multiple positions.” Jeremy Lin will start at PG for the Nets, but Whitehead’s ability to play some shooting guard will still allow him to see significant minutes during his rookie season.

The Nets are going through a full rebuild, and after drafting two guards it doesn’t make much sense to have Jack on the roster competing for minutes. Jack is coming off a torn right ACL and meniscus, but he should still command a fair amount of interest around the league once the big names come off the board. If Jack does indeed hit the waiver wire, both Caris LeVert and Isaiah Whitehead will see a nice boost in value.

It was the expected move for Brooklyn after they couldn’t get anything for Jack on the trade market, and it’ll be interesting to see if any teams claim him off the waiver wire. The most likely outcome will be Jack clearing waivers and then being free to sign with a team of his choosing. With Jack no longer on the roster, Caris LeVert and Isaiah Whitehead will get all the run they can handle, and both those guys are on the radar as potential late-round targets on draft day. Yogi Ferrell’s odds of making the regular season roster have also improved significantly.

It sounds like the Nets will be primarily developing the combo guard at the point guard position during his rookie year, which makes a ton of sense given Brooklyn’s lack of depth at that position. Whitehead put in averages of 18.2 points, 5.1 assists, 3.6 boards, 2.4 triples, 1.2 steals and 1.4 blocks during his sophomore campaign at Seton Hall, and the 6'5" guard is going to have the opportunity to produce right away for a Brooklyn franchise that is hurting for talent.

The Nets are currently believed to be the front runners to land the former champion and All-Star, and if they are successful in their pursuit, it would put a bit of a damper on the fantasy value of Caris LeVert and Isaiah Whitehead. A Rondo signing would also hurt Yogi Ferrell’s chances of making the Nets’ regular season roster, but Brooklyn may provide Rondo with the best opportunity to produce. Currently, it doesn’t seem as though Rondo is interested in returning to the Kings.

The Nets traded the No. 55 selection and cash to move up to No. 42 for Whitehead. He’s very popular among the NYC crowd, playing his college ball at Seton Hall and growing up in Brooklyn. Whitehead didn’t do much in his freshman season, but turned it around in his sophomore campaign with averages of 18.2 points, 3.6 boards, 5.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 2.4 treys and a whopping 1.4 blocks. He has size at 6’5" and has athleticism, so there’s upside here in fantasy and reality. The hometown Nets are a great landing spot for Whitehead as there is currently plenty of opportunity in the backcourt.

The No. 42 overall selection of the 2015 draft clearly needs some refinement, but he does have a knack for contributing a little bit of everything to the stat sheet, although those numbers typically come inefficiently. With Jeremy Lin and Greivis Vasquez on the roster, it’ll be tough for Whitehead to establish himself as a standard league asset his rookie year.

“He fits what we want to be. He fits what we embody,” Marks said. “His tenacity, his professionalism, for us he embodies what Brooklyn grit is all about. … He is a combo guard. We like what he brings to the table. We liked his fire, his energy and his passion.” Whitehead is going to get an opportunity to play right away in Brooklyn, so he’s in an ideal situation for fantasy purposes.