{
  "id": 9657865,
  "title": "What's at stake for Nets' 2025 NBA Draft class during 2026-27 season?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/whats-at-stake-for-nets-2025-nba-draft-class-during-2026-27-season",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-25T00:05:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/whats-stake-nets-2025-nba-000522831.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Brooklyn Nets made a significant move during the 2025 NBA Draft, selecting five players in the first round as part of their efforts to rebuild the franchise. The standout out of the group, guard Egor Demin, was taken with the eighth overall pick in 2024. Demin showed promise in his rookie season before an injury sidelined him, but he made significant progress during a summer league appearance, according to ESPN's Zach Kram.\n\nFollowing Demin, the Nets added guard Nolan Traore (19th overall), forward Drake Powell (22nd), guard Ben Saraf (26th), and Danny Wolf (27th). While the first-round picks have uncertain futures ahead, Kram wrote that the Nets likely knew they wouldn't hit on all five selections, with Demin being the only lottery pick. However, it would be beneficial to see at least one or two of the other players progress in their sophomore seasons, providing the team with more confidence in their long-term plans.\n\nDemin stood out among the 2025 draft class, but other players like Traore and Wolf also showed glimpses of potential last season. Traore struggled initially but was eventually promoted to starting point guard under head coach Jordi Fernandez. Wolf spent time as a backup big, and could potentially return to that role this season. As the 2026-27 season approaches, the focus in Brooklyn will shift to Powell and Saraf, both of whom faced difficulties against NBA competition last season. However, Fernandez will aim to give the young players ample playing time, providing an opportunity to assess which of the remaining four classmates will evolve into productive NBA players.",
  "summary": "The Brooklyn Nets have at least hit on guard Egor Demin in the 2025 NBA Draft, but what's at stake for the rest of the class in the 2026-27 season?",
  "key_points": [
    "Brooklyn Nets select five players in 2025 NBA Draft",
    "Egor Demin taken 8th overall, shows rookie progress",
    "Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf drafted"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Nets' 2025 draft class faces a crucial sophomore season, particularly for Drake Powell and Ben Saraf, as they seek to prove themselves as productive NBA players and shape the team's long-term plans.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}