With training camp about a week away, the Brooklyn Nets are getting ready for a season that feels more about building than chasing. Their crosstown rivals already have the Larry O'Brien trophy, but Brooklyn’s attention is on what comes next - and on which pieces can grow into something bigger.
The veterans will still matter, but the Nets are clearly leaning into development. And at the center of that approach are three names that could shape camp in a big way: Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr.
Porter Jr. and Randle enter the season with plenty to play for, and both are trying to position themselves for at least one more major payday. That shared motivation could work in Brooklyn’s favor if they can feed off each other instead of overlapping. Randle already seems to be looking forward to that possibility.
Their styles suggest a fit that could actually make life easier for both. Randle tends to hold the ball for around four seconds per possession, while Porter sits a little above two.
Because Porter can get free without needing the ball in his hands, that should create more openings for Randle to find him. The pairing could be especially dangerous in pick-and-roll action, where their timing and movement might click quickly.
Then there’s Demin, who looked too polished for Summer League. He attacked the rim with force, knocked down shots from deep and showed off serious bounce.
The shooting should remain a calling card, but the bigger question is whether his improved ability to drive will hold up against elite NBA competition. The added strength he’s put on should at least help him finish through contact and bump smaller defenders off their spots.
Brown brings a different kind of intrigue. He already looks wiser than his age, but camp will be a different test - one filled with veterans who know how to speed a young player up.
That should give him a chance to learn how to change gears on the attack, whether that means pulling up for his floater or making the right read on the fly. For a young guard trying to let the game come to him, that lesson could be just as important as anything else he gets before the season starts.
In Other News...
How An Old Nets Salary Dump Just Paid Off Again
The Nets found another bit of value from a deal that dates back to 2018, when a salary-clearing move involving Jeremy Lin sent out a second-round pick that eventually worked its way back into Brooklyns hands. In the 2026 NBA Draft, that same pick became Tyler Bilodeau, the 6-foot-8 UCLA forward whose game fits the modern profile the organization keeps targeting.
Bilodeau signed a two-way contract, giving Brooklyn a low-cost look at a player expected to help with shooting and positional flexibility. For a team that has leaned on clever roster management for years, it is a reminder that even an old transaction can still shape the next wave of development, especially when the return is a forward who can stretch the floor and add versatility on the margins. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Fans Just Got A Reminder About One Recent Roster Cut
The Raptors latest roster move offered a familiar kind of reminder for Nets fans: a recently cut guard is already finding his next opportunity. Toronto has converted Jaden Bradleys two-way deal into a standard NBA contract, a multi-year agreement that reflects how quickly teams can reshape the back end of a roster when they believe a young player has earned a longer look.
Brooklyn, meanwhile, is seeing a name it just let go pop right back into the league picture. Malachi Smith, who was waived by the Nets recently, is expected to slide into the two-way opening left by Bradley in Toronto, giving him another chance to stick after Brooklyn moved on. For the Nets, it is another small roster note, but the kind that tends to linger when a player leaves one situation and lands in another almost immediately. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Latest Roster Churn Hints At Who They Want To Keep
The Nets kept the roster machine moving again this week, signing DJ Rodman and Aaron Scott before waiving both and then bringing in Nick Pringle. It is the kind of paper-shuffling that has become familiar around Brooklyn, but it also says something about the teams priorities, especially with all three players headed toward the Long Island Nets and a chance to earn bonuses if they stick around the G League long enough.
Rodman arrives after stops in college and a pro look that gave Brooklyn a longer evaluation window, while Scott and Pringle each bring their own recent college and professional backgrounds into the mix. For the Nets, the value in moves like these is rarely just about the present roster, and the real question is which of these younger pieces the organization wants to keep close as it sorts through a deeper pool of talent. [Read more 🡒]