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What rival executives think of Brooklyn Nets’ 2025 NBA Draft selections, reveals Brian Windhorst

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 2:00 PM ET

The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft is over, and the Brooklyn Nets had a somewhat underwhelming performance.

Heading into draft night, the Brooklyn Nets made headlines as they entered with five first-round picks to their name.

Yes, the Eastern Conference organization held 16.6% of all first-round draft picks this year. However, it’s safe to say that the Nets didn’t use them to perfection.

While teams like the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans engaged in draft night trades, the Nets didn’t involve themselves in any moves.

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

All of the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round picks in 2025 NBA Draft

Generally, when a team has an abundance of FRPs, it’s a sign that they may trade a couple to get up in the draft.

Well, that wasn’t the Nets’ strategy as they kept all of their picks and drafted five players. Here’s every player that the Nets picked:

Draft Pick Number	Player Name
No. 8	Egor Demin
No. 19	Nolan Traore
No. 22	Drake Powell
No. 26	Ben Saraf
No. 27	Danny Wolf

While no one was expecting the Nets to somehow get the first overall pick, they could have used some combination of their five FRPs along with players like Nic Claxton or Cameron Johnson.

Brian Windhorst says rival executives are laughing at the Brooklyn Nets

Considering most of the Nets’ picks were in the late first round, it’s unlikely that any of their selected players will turn into superstar-level talent.

In fact, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the chatter around the league is that the Nets drafted multiple two-way contract-caliber players.

“I’ve got some people telling me things about Brooklyn. People are making fun of these draft picks,” Windhorst said, via NBA on ESPN.

He added: “I mean, I’ve got people saying to me—executives and agents—they’re like, ‘Man, I was watching [the Nets] play three two-way guys during this year so that they could clap for taking guys in the 20s.’

“He was like, ‘These two-way guys might be just as good as the guys that they’re taking.'”

It will be tough to see how the Nets fit these players on their roster this season. But the Nets aren’t done drafting just yet, as they also have the 36th overall pick to their name.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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