The Brooklyn Nets made a big splash after hiring former point guard Jason Kidd to be their new head coach and as the NBA draft is approaching, the team is starting to narrow its list of targets and one option for the team could be Kansas center Jeff Withey, who is projected as a late first round pick.
According to ESPN.com, the Nets like Withey as a backup to center Brook Lopez and their rivals in the city in the New York Knicks are also reportedly interested in checking out the center. The draft isn't until the end of June so there is time for the team to check in on him and Withey said that he feels he can be a good fit with Lopez, as he knows him and his brother Robin fairly well after playing against the two in high school.
Lopez is one of the most talented centers in the game and adding Withey could be a way to take some minutes off of him to keep him fresh for later in the season and later in games as well as in the playoffs. Withey could end up doing some things that the Nets like with Lopez and that could take the pressure off him as the main big man on the inside for the team. The Nets lost to the Bulls in the playoffs and now that they added Kidd, there will be pressure to win even faster now.
The Nets have also been looking at Allen Crabbe, but his workout was cut short due to a foot injury. In many mock drafts Withey is going to the Nets at number 22 and others have him slipping past that spot and that is how the Knicks could get him if they like what they see from the center. Withey had an excellent season after setting the Big 12 career record in blocks and he could come into the league and be a high caliber defender right away and that could also help Lopez over time with foul issues.
Deron Williams said he is excited to see how Kidd does, while the Knicks interest in Withey could have him working the center for Tyson Chandler so he isn't getting fatigued at the end of games. As a senior Withey averaged nearly a double-double and he has an offensive game to go with his defensive prowess. Kansas is a good place for big men, as Nick Collison is still playing in the league and the size and bulk of Withey is expected to translate well in the league. The Knicks have a number of free agent options in Al-Farouq Aminu, Andray Blatche, Elton Brand, Dante Cunningham (team option), Samuel Dalembert, J.J. Hickson, Gani Lawal, Jason Maxiell, Anthony Tolliver and Chris Wilcox and Withey could end up coming in as a replacement for that.
