Brooklyn Nets: Grading their 2019 NBA Draft night

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Jaylen Hands, UCLA Bruins.Brooklyn Nets. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

PG. UCLA. 56: JAYLEN HANDS. A.

There’s a really good opportunity for Jaylen Hands to show the Brooklyn Nets what he can bring to the table in his rookie year. With the uncertainty at the point guard position right now, it gives Hands the chance to shine in the Barclays Center and win over the fanbase quickly.

Jaylen Hands is a great all-around talent and doesn’t have many weaknesses. His 37 percent three-point shot, as well as his 6.1 assists per game, show that he’s a point guard that can do what is asked of him on the offensive end.

The former UCLA Bruins star looks to get his teammates involved and can attack the basket with ease. He’s an athletic freak that can jump out of the gym as well as find shooters with some of the flashier passes in the draft class.

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He’s a solid defender that can jump the passing lanes and break out into transition well. His 6-4 wingspan isn’t the most impressive. Hands makes up for it by timing his steals and rebounds better than most.

The 56th overall pick has the speed to keep up with some of the fastest players in the league and is an impact player as soon as he checks in the game. His mindfulness can sometimes slip away from him on the defensive end, but that’s a relatively easy fix and shouldn’t offset all of the upside that Hands brings to the table.

Ceiling: 2011 Derrick Rose

Yes, I’m comparing Jaylen Hands to THAT DUDE because quite frankly, nobody outside of this draft class has had the skill set that prime Derrick Rose had. In this draft class Hands and to a slightly lesser extent, Ja Morant and possess these weapons in their arsenals.

Both Rose then and Hands now are athletic monsters that could set up their teammates flawlessly and attack the rack with authority. It’s hard to find many players that can knife their way through traffic and cruise through the transition game like a Ferrari.

Hands is one of those players and he’s a special talent. If he can stay healthy and consistent, he’ll be right up there with some of the league’s best either on the bench or as a starter.

Floor: Prime Brandon Jennings

Like Rose, Prime Brandon Jennings was a stud and you could say that in terms of flashiness, Hands is closer to Jennings than Rose. Like Claxton, this is a really solid floor to have. Jennings was a point guard who always looked into creating his own shot through mesmerizing dribbling and creativity. He could shoot the three or slice his way into the paint to either find a shot for himself or a wide open opportunity for his teammates.

Regardless of whether Hands is closer to Jennings or Rose, he just needs to make sure that his career doesn’t take the nose dive that both of these players’ careers did. Maintain your body, know your limits, and play ball. If Hands can do that, he’s going to succeed regardless of whether or not he plays at his floor or his ceiling.

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