Back on June 24, the second night of the NBA Draft, fans were aghast that the Nets, who picked at No. 43 weren’t going for a big man, preferably one who can protect the rim. Why didn’t they use their cache of 21 second rounders to take Trevon Brazile of Arkansas, taken by the San Antonio Spurs at No. 35, or Baba Miller of Cincinnati taken by the Los Angeles Clippers one pick later?
Then when the Nets selected 6’9” power forward and sharp shooter Tyler Bilodeau of UCLA and Billings, Montana, at 43,
there were more questions, starting with “Who?!?” and “Why?!?” Fans wanted to know “Why Not Henri Veesar?” the Estonian seven-footer who played at North Carolina and was still on the board (and would be till No. 52) or Ugonna Onyenso of Virginia and Nigeria, who lasted till No. 53.
Bilodeau was unknown to a lot of fans. Until ESPN’s Jeremy Woo listed him at No. 60 and last in his final mock draft two days earlier, he had not made any of the major media’s mocks despite being the top 3-point shooter in the Class of 2026. After he was selected, the Nets moved to sign him to a two-way deal, as they often do with mid-second round picks.
Now, after two games in Sacramento’s California Classic, outrage has subsided a bit and some fans are calling Bilodeau, the next Joe Harris or a taller Joe Harris (by three inches.) We should be so lucky. Harris was taken at No. 33 in the 2014 draft and finished his career with the third best 3-point shooting percentage of all time, having twice led the NBA in 3-point percentage, even beating Steph Curry in the 3-point contest in 2018.
The big change of opinion came in the third game in Sacramento when he scored 18 points, grabbed five rebounds, handed out two assists and hit 4-of-6 from deep. So far, so good. Bilodeau who may not be athletic but has a 7’1” wingspan and big frame is averaging 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds while shooting 55.6% overall and 58.3% from deep, that latter figure the beneficiary of some no-long passes from Brown Jr.
“Yeah, you don’t find dudes at 6-9, 6-8, they could shoot it like that. You don’t. Those are rare. And he’s very versatile on both ends of the floor,” Brown Jr. told The Post. “[He’s] definitely one of those guys that once he sees one or two go through the basket, let’s try to find him. Because once he’s hot, he’s hot.”
Similarly, Egor Demin liked what he saw in Sacto.
“It’s very encouraging. He’s a very big target, first of all; that’s his main advantage. His shot is very quick. That’s something I noticed…that’s one of the main emphasis for me when I’m working out my shot, was how fast can I shoot in a non-game situation to translate it better. His shot, it’s incredible,” Dëmin told the Post. “It’s going to be great for him to make this transition, and benefit the team with his shot. It’s obviously amazing.”
Bilodeau told ND’s Shara Talia Taylor he enjoyed himself…
His head coach, Dutch Gaitley, the defensive specialist on Jordi Fernandez staff, was balanced, starting with his D. He could be hunted by opposing teams at the next level.
“He’s going to guard 4s or 3s, but we switch so much, eventually teams will (say), ‘Hey, let’s test this guy’s footwork,’ ” Gaitley told The Post. “Can he guard? Switch on the ball and hold his own?
“Then the next level is hold his own, but also be able to dictate to them, ‘Hey, I may be fearful I’m going to get beat, but if I get beat, I’m going to get beat in this direction because I know my help is going to be there.’ Know right-hand, left-hand dominant, our help is baseline or help’s middle. If he can lock into those things, he’ll be able to be successful.”
Then, said Gaitley, it’ll be learning the Nets system mostly in the G League which opens November 13. There will be a lot of work including how he can contribute when that shot isn’t falling.
Bilodeau will have an opportunity. As a two-way, he can be active in Brooklyn for up to 50 games before the Nets will have to make a decision on whether to convert him to a standard deal. In the meantime, expect him to light up the G League.
So why did the Nets take Bilodeau. They didn’t say but one factor you have to think played into their thinking. When you have great passers like Demin and Brown Jr., they enhance the value of a sharp shooter. Joe Harris knew that too.
