Arizona’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ends up with Nets

Originally, Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was drafted 23rd overall by the Portland Trailblazers but was later on traded that night to the Brooklyn Nets. Portland traded Hollis-Jefferson and Steve Blake in exchange for Mason Plumlee and Notre Dame forward Pat Connaughton.

Most draft analysts predicted him to go around this time of the draft if not the early 2nd round. The ideal location and fit for him was in Boston, but they passed. It was a very unpredictable draft tonight so anything could have happened.

At first Portland was a great landing sight for Rondae. He would play behind Lamarcus Aldridge and maybe get some time at small forward after the team traded Nicolas Batum. He was one of two Wildcat’s taken tonight with Stanley Johnson taken 8th by the Detroit Pistons. Coach Steve Miller was in attendance.

Brooklyn is also a great place he landed. Plumlee is now in Portland and the team has no real starter at the small or power forward position yet. He will have to out play Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Johnson, and Mirza Teletovic for a starting spot at either small or power forward.

He will most likely end up at power forward because of Johnson playing at the small forward spot. Hollis-Jefferson’s versatility on defense and down low gives him that much more of an edge at power and will give him that much more opportunity.

Brooklyn did also draft a power forward and center in Chris McCollough from Syracuse. He had an ACL injury and did not play most of his freshman season. He is still in recovery and will look to compete with Hollis-Jefferson for that power forward spot.

Hollis-Jefferson will end up staying in Brooklyn where the draft was held at the Barclays Center, home of the Nets. I’m sure he is ready to play in a big city like New York and will look forward to working with Jay-Z and the Brooklyn Nets.

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Arizona) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number twenty-three overall pick to the Portland Trailblazers in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports