Equipped with as many first-round picks as there are 7-foot leprechauns roaming about, the Nets gambled last June. They traded for the first-round draft rights of No. 20, Caris LeVert.
The Michigan star was rehabbing from his third foot surgery in 22 months. That’s why he was down at 20. But the Nets looked long term and knew if LeVert came through, they may have uncovered the proverbial diamond in the rough. Hey, maybe there really are big leprechauns.
“I love what I see,” said coach Kenny Atkinson before the Nets, again without Jeremy Lin who sat with lower back tightness, handed the Lakers their eighth straight loss, 107-97 Wednesday, at Barclays Center.