ClutchPoints
The Brooklyn Nets aren’t trying to win right now. Keep that point in mind. It should put everything in its proper context. After stripping down the roster midseason and steering into a full rebuild, Brooklyn entered the 2025 NBA Draft with multiple first-round picks and a mandate: take big swings. With long-term upside prioritized over short-term polish, the Nets walked away with five new prospects. Each comes with a unique skill set and varying levels of risk. The results? Intriguing, but definitely polarizing.
It sure felt like the 2024-25 season in Brooklyn was all about evaluation. Despite a 26-56 finish and missing the playoffs, the Nets exceeded expectations early and used the back half of the year to test lineups, lean into experimentation, and maximize Cam Johnson’s efficiency under Jordi Fernandez. Sure, they didn’t land top-five lottery odds. However, they still gathered valuable intel on their roster. GM Sean Marks also moved quickly at the trade deadline. He boosted draft capital and lottery position without adding any future salary. This kept Brooklyn’s league-best cap space intact for a pivotal offseason.
Here we will hand out our grades for every player whom the Brooklyn Nets picked at the recent 2025 NBA Draft.
Grade: C
Kon Knueppel going fourth overall was a mild surprise. Egor Demin going eighth overall was the night’s first true stunner.
Before the college season tipped off, Demin was in the mix for top-10 consideration. However, his actual year at BYU raised more questions than it answered. He remains a fascinating prospect, of course. He is a 6’8″ teenager with extraordinary passing vision and a frame that suggests he might eventually guard wings. That kind of upside is tantalizing in today’s league.
Still, this felt too early. Demin’s jumper needs significant work, his handles aren’t advanced, and he needs to really bulk up. There’s a small chance he blossoms into a strong initiator, but it will take patience and significant development. That’s a luxury a rebuilding team like Brooklyn can afford. That said, whether Demin was worth the No. 8 pick is highly debatable.
Grade: B
At No. 19, the Nets doubled down on ball-handlers by selecting French guard Nolan Traore. It’s a curious pairing: both Demin and Traore are creators with shaky outside shots and defensive concerns. Can they coexist? Probably not right away.
However, Traore’s raw tools are tantalizing. He’s a blur in transition and has the craft and vision to become a high-level initiator. Still, his shot is inconsistent. Also, he doesn’t always capitalize on his court vision. The defense? A work in progress, to put it kindly.
If he can find more consistent discipline and add even an average jumper, Traore has legitimate starter upside. The pick represents good value at this spot, though. It’s another chip on Brooklyn’s bet-the-farm strategy at point guard.
Grade: C
With the 23rd pick, Brooklyn added wing defender...
