Nets roster adds players as Summer League approaches
The Brooklyn Nets announced several signings Thursday just before the July 4 holiday, officially signing three of their five rookies — Egor Demin, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf — and giving Long Island Nets combo guard Tyson Etienne a two-way deal.
Both Drake Powell and Nolan Traore signings have been slowed by paperwork issues that expected to be resolved in a matter of days. Powell was part of last week’s three-way deal with the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks that was centered on Kristaps Porzingis. That trade can’t be finalized till Sunday under league rules.
As for Traore, Brian Lewis reports the Nets had to agree to an $850,000 buyout to free up Traore’s contract with his French team, Saint-Quentin. He and the Nets now await approval of the transfer from FIBA which governs international transfers. Once that’s done, he’ll sign with Brooklyn….
#Nets fans worried about Nolan Traore being shipped out as part of this seven-way trade can bring their blood pressure down. He’s going nowhere. The French point guard’s delay in signing is just due to paperwork issues. He should be good to go for Las Vegas Summer League. #NBA
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) July 3, 2025
The #Nets had to pay Saint-Quentin the maximum buyout for Nolan Traore. (It was $850,000 last year, for perspective). Now the parties have been waiting on a #FIBA letter regarding said buyout. Once that’s all done, Traore can officially sign with Brooklyn. #NBA
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) July 3, 2025
Meanwhile, Jake Fischer reports that the rumored seven-team trade revolving around Kevin Durant’s move from Phoenix to Houston has been finalized and should be announced Sunday.
The Nets are one of the teams that’s been mentioned in the deal, but its involvement is likely to be limited as they and the other teams work to resolve cap issues. Speculation is that last Thursday’s trade of the Nets pick at No. 36 for two future Phoenix Suns seconds will be integrated into the larger deal.
So with all that out of the way, here’s what we know about the Brooklyn Nets roster heading into the holiday:
GUARANTEED DEALS (7)
—Nic Claxton (C)
—Michael Porter Jr (PF)
—Terance Mann (SF)
—Noah Clowney (PF/SF)
—Dariq Whitehead (SF)
—Day’Ron Sharpe (C/PF)
—Ziaire Williams, (SF)
ROOKIE DEALS (5)
—Egor Demin (PG)
—Nolan Traore (PG)
—Drake Powell (SG/SF)
—Ben Saraf (PG)
—Danny Wolf (C/PF)
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (1)
—Cam Thomas (SG)
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (1)
—D’Anthony Melton (PG)
TWO-WAY DEALS (2)
—Tosan Evbuomwan (PF)
—Tyson Etienne (SG)
NON-GUARANTEED (4)
—Jalen Wilson (SF)
—Keon Johnson (SG)
—Tyrese Martin (SF)
—Drew Timme (C/PF)
EXHIBIT 10 TRAINING CAMP INVITES (1)
—Grant Nelson (C/PF)
SUMMER LEAGUE INVITES (2)
—Terry Roberts (PG0
—T.J. Bamba (SG)
—Drew Davis (SG)
That’s 23 players and NBA teams can bring 21 players into camp, which is a long way off in late September. Melton is rumored to be headed to the Lakers and the bottom half of the list above is unlikely to hold.