Among the assets gathered in the James Harden blockbuster trade, the Brooklyn Nets are deferring acquisition of the Philadelphia 76ers' 2022 first-round pick at No. 23 to the 2023 NBA draft, sources told ESPN.
Brooklyn informed the league office of the team's decision Wednesday, hours ahead of a midnight deadline, sources said.
Deferring the pick allows the Nets to keep flexibility over an extended period on using that pick in trades -- and gives them a roll of the dice that the pick could land higher on the draft board next year based upon the success of the Sixers' coming season.