Nets Injury Report: Drake Powell’s Ankle Woes Continue, Nolan Traore Steps Up, and Cam Thomas Nears Return
The Brooklyn Nets are feeling the effects of the injury bug as rookie wing Drake Powell was held out of Sunday’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors with a right ankle sprain - his third injury to that same ankle this season.
Powell went down in Thursday’s 106-95 loss to the Miami Heat, exiting late in the first quarter after a collision left him noticeably hobbled. He limped to the bench and was helped off the floor after a timeout, not returning to action. For a player who already missed a chunk of the offseason with left knee tendinopathy, this latest setback adds another frustrating chapter to his rookie campaign.
Despite the recurring ankle issues, head coach Jordi Fernández isn’t sounding any alarms. “Not concerned,” he said, adding that he expects Powell to “be back soon.”
When healthy, Powell has shown flashes of what made him the 22nd overall pick. Through 19 appearances, he’s averaged 6.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, while shooting an efficient 48.8% from the field, a strong 37.8% from three, and a near-automatic 95.2% from the stripe. Defensively, his 110.3 rating ranks third on the team among players with at least eight games played - a sign that he’s making a two-way impact even in limited minutes.
Nolan Traore Gets the Call
With Powell sidelined, the Nets turned to another rookie: 19-year-old Nolan Traore, who was recalled from the team’s G League affiliate in Long Island. Traore had a strong run in the G League from mid-November to early December, and his growth earned him back-to-back appearances for Brooklyn against the Mavericks and Bucks earlier this month.
He logged about nine minutes in each of those games - not a huge chunk of time, but enough to make an impression on his head coach.
“I know that eight to 10 minutes may not seem like a lot, but you can really help a team win a game in nine or 10 minutes,” Fernández said. “Nolan deserved to play because he’s done so well with Long Island. He’s gotten better every single game - not just the numbers, but how he was playing.”
The Nets aren’t rushing Traore into a bigger role, but they’re clearly encouraged by his progress. Fernández emphasized the importance of exposure to the NBA environment and praised Traore for how he’s handled the transition.
“That exposure to this environment is very important,” Fernández said. “The reason for all this is to keep developing, keep getting better, keep challenging yourself.
And I think he’s doing it. He’s embracing it.”
Cam Thomas Nearing Return
Meanwhile, Brooklyn may be getting a key scoring piece back soon. Cam Thomas, who’s been out since Nov. 5 with a left hamstring strain, participated in a full 5-on-5 scrimmage on Saturday - a significant step forward in his recovery.
While there’s still no set return date, Fernández sounded encouraged by what he saw.
“Looked really good,” he said. “And he’s going to continue to do that until we feel he’s ready to go.”
Thomas has been progressing through non-contact work and now is testing his body in full-speed scenarios. The Nets are taking a cautious approach, monitoring how he responds after each session before pushing forward.
“Obviously, the No. 1 priority is him and his body,” Fernández said. “And whenever he’s ready to help the team, he will.”
Before the injury, Thomas was one of Brooklyn’s top offensive weapons, averaging 21.4 points per game across eight appearances. He was shooting 40.2% from the field, 35.6% from deep, and 87.5% from the free-throw line - numbers that underscore his ability to put pressure on defenses in a hurry.
As the Nets navigate a stretch of the season where health and depth are being tested, the development of young players like Powell and Traore - along with the eventual return of Thomas - could be pivotal in determining how far this team can go.