The NBA welcomed its new class of players on Wednesday evening during the 2025 NBA Draft. The Brooklyn Nets entered the draft with five first-round picks; more than any other team. Many expected them to trade up to strengthen their roster and accelerate their rebuild. Instead, they made league history by using all five first-round selections. Now, despite a history of strong draft picks, the Nets are receiving backlash over their picks.
Backlash Over Nets Draft Picks
The Nets selected four guards, Egor Demin (BYU), Drake Powell (North Carolina), Nolan Traore (France), and Ben Saraf (ULM/Israel). They also drafted forward Danny Wolf from Michigan. While their decision to load up on guards raised questions, General Manager Sean Marks views it as a positive dilemma.
Marks said, “Look, this is a great problem to have. Notably being short on picks over the course of the last nine years since I’ve been here, it’s exciting. It’s exciting when we have a great group of scouts, obviously the draft led by B.J. Johnson, and to add a group like this at this particular moment in time for us, why not add as much talent as we possibly can and throw them out there?”
Nets Receiving Backlash
Although Marks expressed pride in the draft picks, Nets fans flooded social media to criticize the team’s decisions. Meanwhile, during an appearance on the Numbers on the Board podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst revealed he received texts from league executives during the draft. They were sharing concerns and even mocking the Nets’ selections.
Windhorst said, “I’ve got some people telling me things about Brooklyn. People are making fun of these draft picks. I mean, I’ve got people saying to me—executives and agents—they’re like, ‘Man, I was watching [the Nets] play three two-way guys during this year so that they could clap for taking guys in the 20s.’ He was like, these two-way guys might be just as good as the guys that they’re taking.’”
The Nets currently hold the most cap space in the NBA, but it looks like they plan to spend conservatively this offseason. Their draft choices suggest that rookies will earn playing time alongside young talents like Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson. Brooklyn’s top priority remains re-signing Cam Thomas, who averaged 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists despite injuries. In the meantime, the team could assign some draftees to the G League before promoting them to the active roster.
Offseason Options
Amid backlash, the Nets could respond boldly by pursuing Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. That is if he becomes available this offseason. Alternatively, the team may follow a different offseason strategy. They hold multiple options, including using cap space or trading current players to create additional financial flexibility. Despite a strong draft history, this year’s selections will test how the organization handles pressure and rising expectations.
Over the years, the Nets have endured setbacks but consistently proved their resilience and adaptability. Their 2025 draft strategy may prove to be a win, aligning with a youth-driven vision and balanced salary goals. For now, we’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out.
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