Brooklyn Acquired the No. 60 Rights Through a Multi-Step Draft Chain
The Nets obtained the rights to Baylor forward Cory Jefferson for cash during the 2014 NBA draft period. The original No. 60 selection belonged to San Antonio, which had drafted Jefferson and then transferred his rights to Philadelphia in a separate draft-night exchange involving Nemanja Dangubić and Jordan McRae. Philadelphia subsequently sent Jefferson to Brooklyn for cash. The canonical ledger identifies Philadelphia as the direct Nets counterparty, and detailed draft trade histories confirm this route. Some shorter transaction summaries describe Brooklyn as receiving Jefferson from San Antonio, reflecting the original selection; these should not erase the intermediate rights transfer. Brooklyn was attempting to find a usable NBA forward at minimal draft cost, while Philadelphia converted an asset received moments earlier into money.
Jefferson Earned Fifty Brooklyn Games and One Start
Jefferson appeared in 50 Nets games during 2014-15, making one start and averaging 3.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.4 blocks in 10.6 minutes. His playing role was modest but real for the final pick of the draft. He also had assignments to the developmental league as Brooklyn tried to improve his readiness, and his NBA tenure with the Nets ended after that rookie campaign. He later appeared briefly for Phoenix, but those minutes do not count as Brooklyn playing production. The Nets C grade in the inherited trade review acknowledges a cheap developmental return without overstating his impact on the playoff rotation. Jefferson was not a 2014 starting power forward for an entire season, nor was his NBA future completely hypothetical.
Philadelphia Received Financial Consideration, Not a Nets Player
Philadelphia acquired cash from Brooklyn instead of keeping Jefferson draft rights. The 76ers were rebuilding through draft selection accumulation and asset management, so selling a lower second-round right was a routine financial decision. It did not add a veteran player or another guaranteed future pick to Philadelphia through this particular cash transfer. The inherited 76ers C+ grade, higher than Brooklyn C, values financial certainty and a willingness to move a limited prospect. The Slight 76ers Edge verdict is therefore based on a different form of return rather than a claim that Jefferson never played in the NBA. Brooklyn did receive measurable 2014-15 reserve games, while Philadelphia immediately recovered money. Tracing the Spurs-to-76ers-to-Nets rights path is essential to avoid conflating two separate draft-night transactions.
Final Verdict
Slight 76ers Edge with inherited C+ Philadelphia and C Brooklyn grades. Philadelphia received cash for No. 60 Cory Jefferson rights after obtaining him from San Antonio in a separate draft trade. Brooklyn acquired Jefferson for 50 games, one start and 3.7 points per appearance during 2014-15.