The short answer is flexibility. The longer answer is a bit more complicated, but the Brooklyn Nets are deferring a first-round pick acquired in the James Harden trade to 2023.
Instead of making the 23rd pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Nets will have Philadelphia’s first-rounder in 2023. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted the news out and here comes the speculation as to why Brooklyn is making this move.
ESPN Sources: The Brooklyn Nets are deferring acquisition of the Philadelphia 76ers 2022 first-round pick at No. 23 to the 2023 NBA Draft. The option on pushing back pick comes out of the James Harden-Ben Simmons trade.