The Brooklyn Nets head into the 2026-27 season with a point guard group that feels young, fast and still very much in the making.
Egor Demin looks like the one most likely to make the biggest jump. The expectation is that he’ll take on more of the on-ball work at point guard, and his game seems headed in the right direction.
His 3-point shot has stayed sharp, but the bigger development is his ability to get downhill. That part of his game should unlock a lot for him.
Demin also looks more comfortable with the ball and better able to use his size against smaller defenders. That edge could matter in the post, where his body can become an advantage. The added strength should help him stay on the floor longer and do things he wasn’t able to do last season, though he may still need a couple more seasons before everything really comes together.
Mikel Brown Jr. is another young guard the Nets are bringing into the mix, and his lone preseason game gave plenty to like. He showed impressive range and a jumper that looks promising. Just as encouraging, his driving game appears smooth, and he can get to the rim with fluidity, which gives him a real chance to beat defenders and finish at the cup.
The Nets will want to see how well Brown can manage the pace of the game and find his own shots as the season unfolds, but there’s clearly a lot to like about his mindset and the way he’s approaching things right now.
Then there’s Nolan Traore, who has added noticeable strength and looked better than ever getting downhill and attacking the rim. His speed stands out most, and it’s already creating easy layups while forcing defenses to collapse. When that happens, it can leave teammates open from deep.
Traore also brings more than just offense. He doesn’t get enough credit defensively for the way he shuts off driving lanes and absorbs contact from bigger guards and wings. He’s expected to be the main backup, though he could see more minutes if Demin and Brown struggle.
Julius Randle will also handle plenty of the playmaking, but his main job is still at power forward. The Nets want him getting downhill, playing with force and imposing his will inside for most of the game.
In Other News...
Ben Simmons Just Added Painful Context To Brooklyn's Failed Big Three
Ben Simmons latest comments in an ESPN documentary add a painful layer of context to one of the more disappointing eras in Brooklyns recent history. Around the time he was traded to the Nets in February 2022, Simmons was dealing with a severe back injury, a setback that complicated an already difficult transition and kept him from contributing when the team was hoping he could help steady its top-end talent.
The injury situation only grew worse from there, with back surgery following in May 2022 and another major setback later in his career after he signed with Sacramento in 2026. Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon in practice, ending his 2026-27 season before it started, a reminder of how injuries have continually reshaped both his recovery and the what-ifs attached to Brooklyns failed Big Three. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Rookie Situation Just Got More Interesting Before Opening Night
Brooklyns rookie picture took a useful turn in the final days before opening night, with Joshua Jefferson moving back into the mix after dealing with back stiffness. Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said Jefferson went through practice fully, a good sign after he had been limited earlier in the week as the team worked through its final preseason preparations.
The update gives the Nets a little more flexibility heading into the opener against the Charlotte Hornets, especially with roster spots and early rotation decisions still taking shape. It also comes with a complication, since fellow rookie Tyler Bilodeau will not be available because of a sprained right shoulder, leaving Brooklyn to sort through its first look at the class with one piece back and another still sidelined. [Read more 🡒]
Moe Wagner Just Gave Nets Fans A Fresh Reason To Notice Him
Moe Wagners move to Brooklyn comes with the kind of personal layer that often gets lost in the churn of summer roster news. After six seasons with the Orlando Magic, the veteran big man has landed with the Nets on a two-year deal, bringing experience and frontcourt depth to a team that can use both. For Brooklyn, it is a straightforward addition on paper, but for Wagner it is also a chance to reset in a place that already feels familiar.
He described Brooklyn as a second home, a feeling tied to how it reminds him of Berlin, and he sounded genuinely eager to settle in as a backup center. On the other side of the family equation, Franz Wagner made clear the departure carried a bittersweet edge, even as he reflected on the time the brothers spent sharing the floor. For the Nets, the emotional backdrop is secondary to the basketball fit, but it still makes Wagner an arrival worth watching as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]