The Brooklyn Nets have officially selected their four picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. While originally having a second-round pick, the Nets traded away their pick to the Phoenix Suns for two future second-round picks just hours before the second round of the draft began. The Nets had plenty of draft potential to build upon for the future of the franchise. The Nets’ four of their first round picks were all guards, with three of them being point guards. While the picks are not bad by any means, they left many Nets fans scratching their heads and in confusion as to what the future holds for the Brooklyn Nets.
Egor Demin (Pick 8)
The Nets’ first pick in the draft went to BYU’s Egor Demin, a 6-foot-9 point guard. He played for Real Madrid’s basketball team from 2021 to 2024. In the 2023-2024 season, he averaged 15.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.1 steals. He moved to the United States for the 2024-2025 season, where he entered BYU as a five-star recruit. He averaged 10.6 points, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. Demin lacks heavily in the shooting department and lacks a jump shot, but makes up for it in being an astounding passer and uses his hands to get steals and blocks. He has great court vision, and the jump shot is something that the Nets’ organization can fix to make him a potential dominant tall guard.
Nolan Traore
Nolan Traore is another tall guard the Nets drafted who looks to be “NBA ready” from a physical standpoint, according to the NBA Draft analysis. At 6-foot-5, Traore is the fastest player in his class and has incredible physical abilities that can be advantageous for the Nets. He has great play-making ability and can create his shot, with the glaring issue being his defense. Playing for Saint-Quentin of the LNB Elite, he averaged 11.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. Traore has great potential in the NBA due to his speed and great play-making skills, but will need to adjust to the NBA level of play, especially on the defensive end of the ball.
Drake Powell
Originally drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, Drake Powell was sent to the Brooklyn Nets based on an agreed-upon trade which involved the Boston Celtics in their trade of Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta. The 6-foot-6 guard was ranked as a top 15 player in 2024 in Pittsburg, North Carolina, where he decided to stay local and play for the North Carolina Tar Heels the next year. While the numbers won’t have scouts turning their heads, he is said to have lots of potential that can quickly elevate his game. He averaged 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.7 blocks in his one year in North Carolina. Powell has an aggressive play style who can finish through contact with elite athleticism. Powell plays well defensively and continues to improve as he gains NBA experience. The 6-foot-6 guard has great two-way potential and can be a great defensive anchor for the Nets.
Ben Saraf
Another 6-foot-6 guard, Ben Saraf, has excellent playmaking skills and can make any type of pass because of his height. In his 2024-2025 season, Saraf averaged 12.3 points per game, 4.3 assists per game, 2.6 rebounds per game, and 1.1 steals per game. Saraf drives down the lane, focusing on downhill moves and change of direction. He has a great mid-range game that could develop into an intense 3-point shooter. Due to his size, Saraf can develop into an above-average 3-pointer who can play multiple positions on the court.
Danny Wolf
The 6-foot-11 Forward, Danny Wolf, has versatile abilities for his size, being able to dribble and pass in the halfcourt and transition. Wolf’s physicality and footwork are skills that are advantageous to him, which make up for his lack of athleticism. He has a solid foundation in his jump shot that can be further developed with NBA-level experience. He is a decent wing who can play well on both ends of the court. Wolf played two seasons at Yale, where he was named the All-Ivy First Team and the Ivy League Tournament Most Outstanding Player. When he transferred to Michigan, Wolf averaged 13.2 points per game, 9.7 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game, and 1.4 blocks per game. If he can add some secondary playmaking to his game, he can be a great sixth man for the Nets, who can be a stand-still 3-point shooter if he can also develop his jump shot.
What’s Next For The Nets?
https://x.com/BrooklynNets/status/1938101388254339382
The Brooklyn Nets’ draft picks are very lengthy and have a strong emphasis on defense and passing ability. While this can provide a strong base for the team and help create better opportunities for current players like Cam Thomas on the court, the Nets’ fans are left scratching their heads over this draft class. While the Nets did not draft an absolute superstar like Cooper Flagg, they can develop this group of players into great playmakers and passers, whose height advantage provides excellent court vision for the team.
Their development could make or break the Nets, but the future may not be bleak. The Nets could adopt a more European style of play and a “0.5 basketball” approach, utilizing wing players who can pass effectively. This style of play requires deciding what to do before the ball arrives and executing it immediately. There is zero holding of the ball and it requires constant action. If the Nets can utilize this style of play while developing their players into skilled shooters, they could become a well-oiled machine of a team if all goes well. Only time will tell how this Nets’ draft class will develop, but it seems to be a matter of trusting the process and waiting to see how things play out for this franchise.
