After Nets general manager Sean Marks’ initial first-round picks vastly outperformed their draft positions, fans have barely seen rookie Dzanan Musa. Though Caris LeVert and Jarret Allen got thrown into the fire, Musa has been tossed into the G-League.
But the Nets don’t view it as a disappointment, but an opportunity.
Despite LeVert’s injury, they’re still deeper than they were when he arrived in 2016. And Musa, who is just 19 — the second-youngest in team history and one of the youngest in the G-League — is getting a chance not only to learn the game, but to learn a whole new position as he is groomed as a point guard.
Musa got his first start at the point Tuesday in Long Island, powering an easy 129-118 win over Greensboro. He had 26 points, three steals and a team-high seven assists, including a highlight-reel lefty bounce pass to Jordan McLaughlin from just over halfcourt that shows he has a knack for the position.
“That’s the first time I played point guard, ever. I didn’t play point guard at all. As you can see it was productive,” Musa told The Post. “Even at home I just played point guard in youth selections. So I like that about it. The coaches are in charge, so what they say to me to do, I will do.”
Scouts had viewed the 6-foot-9 Musa as a gifted scorer, but at times selfish and immature. The Nets, who lost 131-125 in double overtime to the Grizzlies on Friday, saw him as talented and competitive, happily took him No. 29 and will work with the rest.
Though Musa has logged just 22 minutes in six cameos with the Nets, is averaging 20 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in nine games with Long Island after a 118-114 win over Greensboro on Friday.
“I’m trying to prove to everyone that I can do multiple things on the court, that I’m not just some scorer, that I can pass, I can play defense,” Musa said. “I’m trying to prove to my coaches that I can do a little of everything. [I’m working on] ballhandling, a lot of shooting, and passing obviously. I’m trying to just help my guys in Long Island to be better players every day. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
With LeVert, D’Angelo Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie and Shabazz Napier, the Nets might not see Musa as a pure point guard. But they see a scorer who assistant Pablo Prigioni and Long Island coach Will Weaver can mold into a playmaker.
“That’s what the G-League is for,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “That’s what Long Island is for, to experiment with stuff and I love that Will is doing it. It’s a great idea.
“Give him opportunities; it’s more that than thinking “OK he’s going to be our point guard of the future. You know how [good] it is with multiple ballhandlers. It’s great for him to get that opportunity to do that. Can he be like a [Danilo] Gallinari, 6-9, 6-10, can play pick-and-roll. If you have a big guy that’s able to do that — and he definitely has the ability — now all-out point guard, that’s probably going to be a long shot. But I like that we’re [seeing].”
Joe Harris sat out Friday’s game with an adductor injury. Though teammate Rondae Hollis-Jefferson missed two months with one of his own, the Nets haven’t ruled Harris out for Saturday’s game in Washington.
“I’m not worried,” Atkinson said. “I’d say the term is precautionary. It’s a day-to-day thing. I think we’re erring on the side of caution.”
The Wizards’ Otto Porter Jr. — whom the Nets signed to an offer sheet as a restricted free agent in summer 2017 — is on the trade block and missed Friday’s game against the 76ers for personal reasons.
He’s expected to face the Nets on Saturday, but The Athletic reported the Kings are looking to trade for him. Porter picked the Nets’ offer sheet over the Kings’ but Washington matched.
