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When Hamidou Diallo pulled out of the NBA Draft to rejoin the Kentucky Wildcats, many believed he was waiting on a guarantee to be drafted in the first round before he made his decision.
Whether the Brooklyn Nets gave him that is unknown, but they were set on selecting him late in the first round if he were still available, according to Bryan Fonseca, who was the first to report that Diallo was returning to Kentucky.
Also, I have reason to believe the #Nets would've taken Diallo this yr assuming he was available at 22/27 (which was likely). #NBADraft
— Bryan Fonseca (@BryanFonsecaNY) May 25, 2017
But Diallo not having a strong body of work for NBA people to work with led to no team willing to give him enough assurance that he would go as high in Round 1 as he wanted.
A GM enamored w/ Hamidou Diallo's athleticism and potential said, "...Just isn't enough of a body of work to make a commitment on him now."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) May 25, 2017
For Diallo, a full season at Kentucky - and work on his shot - could make him a high lottery pick. Tremendous NBA intrigue surrounds him. https://t.co/NRuDhpmWku
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) May 25, 2017
Diallo worked out for the Nets on May 18. He is a Queens, NY native. So, the pick made sense on multiple levels, but either Diallo was uncertain about his first-round pick status or he wants to propel himself into the lottery.
Either way, we’re glad to have him back.