The Nets’ rebuild is set to get a significant boost at the 2025 NBA Draft.
Brooklyn, which went 26-56 in the 2024-25 season and now comes into the offseason with cap space, also owns a huge collection of picks for the draft. With solid pieces like Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton already in place, this will be a key stretch for the Nets to make additions to their young core.
In fact, the Nets own both the most overall picks and first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, but entering the first round, opinions among experts vary on who exactly Brooklyn will use its capital on.
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Here’s a breakdown of the Nets’ 2025 picks, the players they took and who different outlets are projected them to take in the draft.
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Nets 2025 NBA Draft picks
Brooklyn had six picks in this year’s draft, five of which are first-rounders. Here’s how they used their picks.
| Round | Overall Pick | Player |
| 1 | 8 | Egor Demin, F, BYU |
| 1 | 19 (from Milwaukee via New York, Detroit, Portland, and New Orleans) | Nolan Traore, PG, France |
| 1 | 22 (from Atlanta via Los Angeles, New Orleans) | Drake Powell, G, UNC |
| 1 | 26 (from New York) | Ben Saraf, G, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) |
| 1 | 27 (from Houston) | Danny Wolf, F/C, Michigan |
| 2 | 36 |
MORE: How Nets are making history with four first-round picks
Nets mock draft projections
Mock drafts are never going to be entirely accurate in comparison to how things shake out, especially with trades factoring in on draft night, but there are a few varying opinions on how the Nets will use their five picks.
Brooklyn most recently acquired pick No. 22 on Tuesday night in a three-team trade with the Hawks and Celtics. As such, most mocks have not yet accounted for the Nets owning that pick.
In The Sporting News’ final two-round mock draft from Gilbert McGregor, Brooklyn selects Duke center Khaman Maluach at No. 8 overall. Maluach could be an excellent addition to the team’s frontcourt as a project center with outstanding size and athleticism.
Here’s how McGregor projected five of the Nets’ picks, prior to Tuesday’s trade:
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Previous Team |
| 1 | 8 | Khaman Maluach | C | Duke |
| 1 | 19 | Will Riley | F | Illinois |
| 1 | 26 | Rasheer Fleming | F | Saint Joseph’s |
| 1 | 27 | Hugo Gonzalez | F | Real Madrid |
| 2 | 36 | Ben Saraf | G | Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) |
Maluach would be the prized addition from the bunch, a lengthy center that offers upside around the rim on both sides of the ball.
“Maluach can step into a big role as the centerpiece of a team in a uniquely aggressive rebuild,” McGregor wrote. “Brooklyn will make four first-round selections in 2025, and in Maluach, it gets a malleable player who is still learning the game and has limitless potential.”
McGregor also projects Brooklyn to take Will Riley, a standout shooter from Illinois in the frontcourt. Then, he projects the Nets to go with Rasheer Fleming from Saint Joseph’s, Spanish forward Hugo Gonzalez, and Ben Saraf, an international guard.
“With four first-round picks, Brooklyn can afford to invest in potential in the late first round,” McGregor wrote. “Gonzalez has an NBA-ready frame and can grow into a valuable rotation player for the rebuilding Nets.”
As for ESPN, it released its most recent two-round mock draft on Monday, and there are some similarities in potential Nets targets:
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Previous Team |
| 1 | 8 | Khaman Maluach | C | Duke |
| 1 | 19 | Asa Newell | PF/C | Georgia |
| 1 | 22 | Danny Wolf | F/C | Michigan |
| 1 | 26 | Nolan Traore | PG | Saint-Quentin |
| 1 | 27 | Rasheer Fleming | PF | Saint Joseph’s |
| 2 | 36 | Tyrese Proctor | PG | Duke |
Maluach and Fleming are again included as two potential prospects to join Brooklyn. As for the No. 19 overall pick, ESPN projects Georgia forward Asa Newell to land with the squad, noting his potential to become a stretch-four.
“Newell is another player who appears to have helped himself in the pre-draft process, having showcased his physical tools and room for growth as a shooter,” ESPN wrote. “The Nets are also viewed as a desirable destination by many agents, due to the minutes and opportunity they have available next season. Newell’s long-term upside could be appealing to them as a developmental addition here.”
Outside of Fleming, ESPN also projects the Nets to take two guards in Nolan Traore and Tyrese Proctor, along with forward Danny Wolf. If that’s how things shake out, Proctor could be a fascinating addition. Not only does he make for an interesting prospect, but the point guard also spent a college season playing alongside Maluach at Duke, potentially giving the Nets some prior chemistry between two additions.
Finally, here’s how the Nets’ selections looked in The Athletic’s most recent mock draft, which was released Monday:
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Previous Team |
| 1 | 8 | Kasparas Jakučionis | G | Illinois |
| 1 | 19 | Egor Demin | G | BYU |
| 1 | 26 | Nolan Traore | G | Saint-Quentin |
| 1 | 27 | Drake Powell | G | North Carolina |
| 2 | 36 | Hansen Yang | C | Qingdao Eagles (Chinese Basketball Association) |
From the start, there’s another player to keep an eye on for the Nets’ top pick at No. 8: Kasparas Jakučionis from Illinois. Especially regarded as a strong passer, Jakučionis would give Brooklyn a young ball-handler who could develop and do a little bit of everything.
“The Nets are rebuilding and have a lot of needs,” The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie wrote. “Jakučionis is a special passer who I hope continues to work on his craft as a ballhandler to get separation from his man consistently without turning the ball over and feeling rushed.”
The Athletic also has the Nets taking a guard with each of their first four picks, although each player offers a different skill set. While both Jakučionis and Demin offer size and playmaking, Traore is a strong ball handler and scorer, and Powell is a 3-and-D prospect.
Add in seven-footer Hansen Yang from China, and the Nets would be getting a little bit of everything in this potential class, which may not be a bad idea as they identify talent for their rebuild and keep their eyes on the future.
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