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Brooklyn Nets: 2017 NBA Draft Lottery results are painful to see

By Nick Ziegler

May 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) looks on during player introductions prior to game seven of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) looks on during player introductions prior to game seven of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NBA Lottery has come and gone, and it ended up being the worst-case scenario for the Brooklyn Nets.

After being the worst team in the NBA this season, the Brooklyn Nets knew there draft pick was going to the Boston Celtics.

The trade that brought Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn really hurt the Nets this season, as the Celtics now have the No.1 overall pick. Prior to the Celtics getting the first overall pick, the Philadelphia 76ers received the third overall pick, and the Los Angeles Lakers got the second overall pick.

Unlike those teams, the Celtics are currently in the Eastern Conference Finals after eliminating the Washington Wizards in an exciting Game 7. Seeing the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals with the No.1 overall pick is nearly an impossible sight. General Manager Danny Ainge deserves a lot of credit, as the Celtics will now have an extremely valuable chip to either use or trade this offseason.

For the Nets, they are looking at another poor season next year, and they are missing out on a franchise-changing player. With elite guards like Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball as the first two projected picks, the Nets would have been extremely happy with either one.

The lottery results have to be extremely frustrating for the Nets, as it really shows how hard this rebuild is going to be for Sean Marks and Kenny Atkinson. With some young pieces on the team like Caris LaVert and Isaiah Whitehead, the Nets are certainly getting younger. While both of them are nice players, they aren’t All-Star caliber players.

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This draft really shows that teams should be protecting their draft assets instead of going all-in on veteran players. The flawed trades made by the Nets not only didn’t result in a championship, but it has also set the team back for years to come.

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