Brooklyn’s backcourt could end up telling the story of the Nets’ season, and the spotlight is squarely on Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr.
Both guards have spent the summer trying to clean up the rough edges in their games, and Brooklyn has already gotten a look at them together during the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League. Around the league, though, there’s real curiosity about how much that pairing can actually give the Nets next season.
That uncertainty is part of why John Schuhmann of NBA.com pointed to Brooklyn’s young talent when sizing up the team’s outlook in the East. “But how good the Nets are in 2026-27 is not as important as how good they can be a few seasons from now, so it’s important that they hit on their Lottery picks from the last two drafts,” Schuhmann wrote for NBA.com when discussing the Nets and where they rank in the Eastern Conference at the moment. NBA.com ranks Brooklyn as the 14th-best team in the East, but that number could shift depending on how Demin and Brown play next year.
Schuhmann also flagged one of the biggest summer-league wrinkles for the two guards. “Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. combined to take 51 (60%) of their 85 Summer League shots from 3-point range, probably too high a rate given the former’s size and the latter’s explosiveness," Schuhmann continued. "Brown will need some time to find his way, but the time is now for Demin to take a big step forward and show that there’s a brighter future for this franchise."
For now, the expectation is that Demin and Brown will open next season as Brooklyn’s starting backcourt. They’d be flanked by Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle at forward, with Day'Ron Sharpe in the middle. Demin already locked down a starting role for Fernandez last season, while Brown still has to battle Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf in training camp for the starting point guard job.
The Nets know what they’re getting from Porter, Randle, and Sharpe. That’s why the pressure lands on Demin and Brown. Brooklyn is projected to be among the league’s weakest teams next season, but if those two guards come faster than expected, the Nets could end up turning more heads than people think.
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Nets Face An Early Backcourt Decision That Could Shape Their Rebuild
The Nets still have room to add another player in free agency, and the early shape of this roster seems to be coming into focus around Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. While Brooklyn continues developing young guards Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dmin, the front office is also weighing whether a more established backcourt presence makes sense for a team trying to balance long-term growth with immediate structure.
A veteran option would give the Nets another layer of experience and leadership in a group that still needs direction, especially if the goal is to keep the offense organized while the younger pieces grow into bigger roles. If Brooklyn decides not to go that route, the other path could be a more aggressive one, with trade possibilities still on the table if the team chooses to chase a star instead of filling the spot with a stopgap. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Porter Jrs Latest Viral Moment Lands Amid A Nets Dilemma
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For Brooklyn, the timing is what makes it interesting. Porter is entering the final season of his contract with the Nets while extension talks are reportedly ongoing, and that has kept him at the center of both roster planning and trade chatter. The team still has a decision to make on how it wants to handle him moving forward, which only gives each new viral clip a little more weight than it might otherwise deserve. [Read more 🡒]