The Nets are the only team in the league coming into the draft without a single pick. But that’s no guarantee they won’t add one.
With the first round Wednesday at Barclays Center and the second round a day later in Manhattan, general manager Sean Marks — who has a history of being active during or right before the draft — is open to dealing for a pick.
But it’s more about landing the right prospect than just adding a random pick.
“We look at the draft the same way every year: It’s take the best available,” Marks said after Brooklyn’s season ended. “If there’s somebody in there that, wow, they’re slipping, can we get in there at that particular pick? That would be important for us just to go and say, ‘Hey, we, we got the 20th pick, we got the 44th pick.’ That doesn’t do us any good.
“It’s for us this year, it’s gonna be more strategic. It’s about, ‘Is the player available at that pick? How do we get in there?’ So those conversations [have been happening] and they’ll be happening all the way up until on the clock.”
The Nets have been trying to get a pick in the draft, and SNY reported they are optimistic about their ability to do so. Marks hasn’t ruled out anteing up for a first-round pick.
“No, I wouldn’t rule out acquiring anything,” Marks said. “If there’s a guy there that you like, you’ve got to have the conviction to go after them.”
There are a number of teams potentially open to dealing first-rounders, Yahoo! citing the Suns (No. 22), Knicks (24 and 25), Timberwolves (27), Jazz (29) and Celtics (30).
The Knicks, Rockets and Jazz have all reached out to check on the availability of Mikal Bridges, but sources have consistently told The Post that Brooklyn has no intention of moving the small forward.
Sources added that — contrary to reports — the Nets haven’t had any talks with Charlotte over trading Ben Simmons.
But Day’Ron Sharpe has drawn interest from Memphis for a backup wing and second-round pick, according to Hardwood Paroxysm and Action Network.
The Nets have been eyeing prospects mostly in the second-round range, and on the younger side.
The highest-rated prospect to work out for them is French 3-and-D wing Pacome Dadiet.
Still 18, his length, shooting and age could see him sneak into the bottom of the first round.
Marks has often been busy on draft night.
The morning of the 2016 draft he shipped Thad Young to Indiana for the pick that became Caris LeVert.
The morning of the next draft he sent Brook Lopez and a first-round pick to the Lakers for D’Angelo Russell (and Timofey Mozgov).
Brooklyn dealt Landry Shamet to the Suns on draft night in 2021 for the pick that became Cam Thomas.
There are plenty of others.
But even if the Nets don’t move into this draft, they have two open two-way deals (Jaylen Martin, 20, inked a two-year deal last season).
And of their three rookies this past season, Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead were both among the four youngest players in the league and are still younger than 10 of the projected first-rounders in a recent ESPN mock draft.
Clowney came on over the final six games last season, averaging 13.5 points, seven rebounds, 2.2 blocks and hitting 8 of 17 from deep. He had seven blocks in an April 10 win over Toronto.
Whitehead logged just 24 minutes in two games before season-ending leg surgery, but is healthy.
“Dariq should play in [Las Vegas] Summer League. … Whether or not he plays the entire summer league or not, that’ll be TBD,” Marks said. “But he’s in the gym every day … so hopefully he’s getting himself ready and robust enough to play in summer league.”
