Why Nets should draft these two dynamic college guards

As the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, the Brooklyn Nets find themselves at a crossroads. With picks No. 8 and No. 19, GM Sean Marks has the perfect opportunity to quit treading water and start building something new. 

The solution? Draft Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears and Colorado State’s Nique Clifford. This pairing wouldn’t just fill needs — it would redefine Brooklyn’s identity.

The case for change

Let’s be real: Brooklyn’s been in limbo for quite some time.

Despite having talent, the team has lacked direction. Trading Mikal Bridges was the first domino. Cam Thomas, the team’s best scorer, hasn’t been extended, fueling talk of a sign-and-trade. This liminal state screams for a true rebuild. Marks might not admit it, but it’s happening.

The worst move is stalling. Brooklyn must embrace the pivot — youth, identity, energy — and stop pretending it's just one star away.

Have no Fears?

Fears is a top-five talent in this draft class. If the Nets need to move up a few spots to get him, they should have been working the phones yesterday. 

He’s a dynamic point guard with electric scoring and a fierce competitive edge. At Oklahoma, Fears showed flashes of brilliance — speed, aggression, shot-making and defensive tenacity.

He’s the type of guy who wants the ball with the game on the line. That alpha mentality is contagious. For a Nets team desperately seeking a cultural shift, Fears could be the engine. He brings swagger, leadership, and a willingness to get dirty — all traits Brooklyn sorely lacks.

Clifford could set tone

With the 19th overall pick, Brooklyn can target a long, defensive-minded wing like Clifford. 

Fresh off a breakout season at Colorado State, Clifford offers versatility, toughness and effort. He locks down on defense, plays with physicality and can guard multiple positions. Offensively, he’s improving — cutting well, hitting open shots and showing playmaking promise.

The comparison? Somewhere between Ryan Dunn and a budget Kawhi Leonard — a defensive ace with the tools to become more. Clifford brings grit, edge and intensity. He could set the tone for Brooklyn’s defense from day one.

A message to the league

Drafting Fears and Clifford wouldn’t just check boxes — it would send a signal that Brooklyn is done chasing shortcuts, done overpaying for stars past their peak. This would be a message of intent, opting for youth, competition, defense and development.

The duo could reshape the Nets’ backcourt into a hungry, high-motor unit built to defend, attack and grow. They represent a foundation, not a fad.

So what should Marks do? Don’t wait and see — be aggressive. Move up for Fears if needed. Don’t be afraid to trade back in or up for Clifford. And make everyone on the roster available in trade talks. It’s time to stop patching holes and start building walls.

Brooklyn needs fresh, young talent — not headlines. On June 25, it has the power to redefine its trajectory. Time to act like it.