<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/grading-nets-michael-porter-jr-cam-johnson-trade-nuggets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grading Nets’ Michael Porter Jr., Cam Johnson trade with Nuggets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Grading-Nets-Michael-Porter-Jr-Cam-Johnson-trade-with-Nuggets.jpg"></figure><h1>Grading Nets’ Michael Porter Jr., Cam Johnson trade with Nuggets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T19:20:31-07:00">June 30th, 7:20pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T19:51:00-07:00">June 30th, 7:51pm</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Monday marked the opening of NBA free agency, but a blockbuster trade between the Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets will be among the day’s top headlines. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-michael-porter-jr-trade-bombshell-cam-johnson-deal">The Nets traded Cam Johnson to the Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr.</a> and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick, first reported by ESPN and confirmed by ClutchPoints.</p><p>Brooklyn’s 2025 draft featuring an NBA-record five first-round picks indicated a commitment to a full rebuild. Meanwhile, Denver is attempting to craft another championship-caliber roster around three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.</p><p>With that, we assess the deal for both sides and offer grades.</p><h2>Grading Nets’ trade acquisition of Michael Porter Jr., 2032 first-round pick</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_24640854.jpg"><figcaption>Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Nets entered the offseason in a favorable position, as the NBA’s only team with significant cap space. General manager Sean Marks used that space on Tuesday to absorb Terance Mann’s contract in return for the No. 22 pick in the draft. He executed another salary dump in the Nuggets deal, absorbing the remaining two years and $79 million on Michael Porter Jr.’s contract and acquiring a premium asset in Denver’s unprotected 2032 pick.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-cam-johnson-gets-real-trade-rumors-after-remaining-brooklyn-through-deadline">Cam Johnson had been at the center of trade speculation</a> over the last year after Brooklyn entered a rebuild. Yet, league sources told ClutchPoints that the rebuilding squad was not actively shopping him at the deadline and held a steep asking price of two first-round picks. No team met that price, and the Nets were content to hold onto the sharpshooting forward.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nets-news-sean-marks-reveals-where-brooklyn-stands-trading-cam-johnson">Johnson had a career-best season</a> that caught the eye of the Nuggets’ front office. While the 28-year-old had emerged as the most respected voice in the Nets’ locker room, he did not fit a rebuilding timeline. It’s difficult to envision Brooklyn landing a much better draft asset for Johnson than Denver’s unprotected 2032 first-round pick, which will be a nice negotiating chip in trade talks for a star down the line.</p><p>Porter Jr.’s contract won’t hamstring the Nets long-term. The 27-year-old, previously coached by Jordi Fernandez in Denver, is a career 40 percent three-point shooter with some shot-creation ability. Should he perform well with Brooklyn, he is young enough to be a part of the team’s next iteration. Regardless of his production, the Nets could use his $40.8 million expiring salary as a filler in a trade for a star in 2026-27 if they want to expedite their timeline.</p><p><b>Nets’ Grade: A</b></p><h2>Grading Nuggets’ trade acquisition of Cam Johnson</h2><p>Despite a depleted rotation, the Nuggets were the closest team to knocking off the Oklahoma City Thunder in this year’s playoffs. Johnson should offer a seamless fit alongside Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.</p><p>The newest Nugget is coming off a career-best season during which he averaged 18.8 points and 3.4 assists on 48/39/89 shooting splits. Johnson and Desmond Bane were the NBA’s only players to average at least 18 points on such efficiency. Like Porter Jr., the 29-year-old will provide elite floor spacing alongside Jokic. However, he will present an upgrade in terms of secondary ball-handling and decision-making.</p><p>Swapping Porter Jr.’s <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/26980/michael-porter-jr" rel="noopener">$38.3 million salary</a> for Johnson’s $21 million contract also allowed the Nuggets to dip below the second apron and gain access to the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception. That flexibility allowed them to agree to a one-year deal with Bruce Brown, who won a championship with the team in 2023.</p><p>Parting with an unprotected 2032 first-round pick does present some risk for the Nuggets, who are competing in a loaded Western Conference. However, it’s a worthwhile price to maximize the team’s chances of winning another title during Jokic’s prime.</p><p><b>Nuggets’ Grade: A</b></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grading Nets’ Michael Porter Jr., Cam Johnson trade with Nuggets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/brooklyn-nets-2025-nba-draft-grades-every-pick');   ga('set', 'title', 'Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Brooklyn-Nets-2025-NBA-Draft-grades-for-every-pick-publish-after-draft.jpg"></figure><h1>Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T18:02:23-07:00">June 30th, 6:02pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T18:02:23-07:00">June 30th, 6:02pm</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Brooklyn Nets aren’t trying to win right now. Keep that point in mind. It should put everything in its proper context. After stripping down the roster midseason and steering into a full rebuild, Brooklyn entered the 2025 NBA Draft with multiple first-round picks and a mandate: take big swings. With long-term upside prioritized over short-term polish, the Nets walked away with five new prospects. Each comes with a unique skill set and varying levels of risk. The results? Intriguing, but definitely polarizing.</p><h2><b>Discovery and Direction</b></h2><p>It sure felt like the 2024-25 season in Brooklyn was all about evaluation. <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/bkn">Despite a 26-56 finish</a> and missing the playoffs, the Nets exceeded expectations early and used the back half of the year to test lineups, lean into experimentation, and maximize Cam Johnson’s efficiency under Jordi Fernandez. Sure, they didn’t land top-five lottery odds. However, they still gathered valuable intel on their roster. GM Sean Marks also moved <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nets-news-sean-marks-breaks-silence-holding-cam-johnson-through-deadline">quickly at the trade deadline</a>. He boosted draft capital and lottery position without adding any future salary. This kept Brooklyn’s league-best cap space intact for a pivotal offseason.</p><p>Here we will hand out our grades for every player whom the Brooklyn Nets picked at the recent 2025 NBA Draft.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_26532996.jpg"><figcaption>Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Egor Demin stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the eighth pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h2><b>Egor Demin, PG/SF, BYU</b></h2><p><b>Grade: C</b></p><p>Kon Knueppel going fourth overall <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/hornets-news-kon-knueppel-asked-weird-questions-duke-going-no-4">was a mild surprise</a>. Egor Demin going eighth overall <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nets-news-egor-demin-addresses-luka-doncic-comparisons-after-brooklyn-selection">was the night’s first true stunner</a>.</p><p>Before the college season tipped off, Demin was in the mix for top-10 consideration. However, his actual year at BYU raised more questions than it answered. He remains a fascinating prospect, of course. He is a 6’8″ teenager with extraordinary passing vision and a frame that suggests he might eventually guard wings. That kind of upside is tantalizing in today’s league.</p><p>Still, this felt too early. Demin’s jumper needs significant work, his handles aren’t advanced, and he needs to really bulk up. There’s a small chance he blossoms into a strong initiator, but it will take patience and significant development. That’s a luxury a rebuilding team like Brooklyn can afford. That said, whether Demin was worth the No. 8 pick is highly debatable.</p><h2><b>Nolan Traore, PG, Saint-Quentin</b></h2><p><b>Grade: B</b></p><p>At No. 19, the Nets doubled down on ball-handlers by selecting French guard Nolan Traore. It’s a curious pairing: both Demin and Traore are creators with shaky outside shots and defensive concerns. Can they coexist? Probably not right away.</p><p>However, Traore’s raw tools are tantalizing. He’s a blur in transition and has the craft and vision to become a high-level initiator. Still, his shot is inconsistent. Also, he doesn’t always capitalize on his court vision. The defense? A work in progress, to put it kindly.</p><p>If he can find more consistent discipline and add even an average jumper, Traore has legitimate starter upside. The pick represents good value at this spot, though. It’s another chip on Brooklyn’s bet-the-farm strategy at point guard.</p><h2><b>Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina</b></h2><p><b>Grade: C</b></p><p>With the 23rd pick, Brooklyn added wing defender Drake Powell. He’s tough, switchable, and plays with a high motor. On paper, he’s a prototypical 3-and-D role player. The defense is solid. Powell can handle assignments 1 through 3 and uses his strength to good effect.</p><p>That said, the “3” part of that equation is very much in question. His shot is slow, mechanical, and unreliable, and his free-throw percentage (64.8 percent) doesn’t inspire confidence. His offense beyond spot-up shooting is nearly nonexistent.</p><p>Still, Powell could be a glue guy worth keeping. As it stands, this pick feels more like a hedge than a slam dunk.</p><h2><b>Ben Saraf, PG/SG, Ratiopharm Ulm</b></h2><p><b>Grade: B</b></p><p>With their fourth first-rounder, Brooklyn went back to the guard well. They took Israeli prospect Ben Saraf at No. 26. The lefty playmaker is savvy, patient, and shifty with the ball. He’s a high-feel operator who compensates for average athleticism with footwork and craft.</p><p>His limitations, which are inconsistent shooting and questionable defense, might cap his upside. Still, at this stage in the draft, the Nets got a smart bet on intelligence and skill. If the jumper improves, Saraf could be a long-term backup or even a fringe starter.</p><h2><b>Danny Wolf, PF/C, Michigan</b></h2><p><b>Grade: B</b></p><p>With their final pick, Brooklyn finally added some funk to the frontcourt. Danny Wolf is a 6’11” big man who played like a guard at Michigan. At times, he ran the offense, initiating from the perimeter, and taking step-back jumpers like a guard. He brings a lot of flash and plenty of confidence.</p><p>However, there’s a reason he was available this late. Wolf’s decision-making leads to turnovers and his defense is mostly a question mark. He’s pretty much a project.</p><p>Still, the Nets appear to want bigs who can handle, wings who can defend, and guards who can pass. If Wolf hits, he could become a matchup nightmare and second-unit engine.</p><h2><b>Overall Draft Grade: B</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/NBA-Draft-hosted-by-the-Brooklyn-Nets.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Nets walked into the 2025 NBA Draft clearly trying to take big swings. They walked out with five first-round picks, four guards, and a high-variance big man. No pick feels totally safe, but none are completely indefensible either.</p><p>Brooklyn’s front office is betting on upside and creativity—and perhaps more importantly, buying time. Whether this draft class forms the foundation of the next Nets contender or becomes trade fodder for a future blockbuster, it sets the tone for a rebuild that’s leaning all the way into experimentation.</p><p>That deserves at least some credit.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-michael-porter-jr-trade-bombshell-cam-johnson-deal');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nuggets trade Michael Porter Jr. to Nets in bombshell Cam Johnson deal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MPJ.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nuggets trade Michael Porter Jr. to Nets in bombshell Cam Johnson deal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T16:15:04-07:00">June 30th, 4:15pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T16:50:20-07:00">June 30th, 4:50pm</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Denver Nuggets have <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1939822818667241921" rel="noopener">agreed to trade</a> forward Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for forward Cam Johnson, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.</p><p>After hearing his name come up in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nba-rumors-michael-porter-jr-trade-nuggets-looking-improve">discussions at the trade deadline</a> in February, the Nuggets have now completed a massive roster shift by sending Porter to Brooklyn.</p><p>Porter, 27, was a pivotal part of the Nuggets’ championship run in 2023. In six seasons with Denver, Porter averaged 16.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting 40.6 percent from 3-point range.</p><p>The Nuggets had been heavily restrained as an apron team with Porter’s contract, which is why this is a significant shift to acquire Johnson, who is also known to be a catch-and-shoot threat on the wing.</p><p>Various teams have <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/5-cam-johnson-trade-suitors-make-most-sense">attempted to trade for Johnson</a> since last offseason. With the Nets maintaining a high asking price in trade talks for the two-way wing, he ultimately remained in Brooklyn through the trade deadline in February.</p><p>Now, with the Nuggets looking to cut costs and willing to sacrifice future draft picks, the Nets decided it was best to part ways with Johnson this offseason. Brooklyn is currently in the midst of a rebuild and will focus all their attention on their young core, consisting of five rookies selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.</p><p>Porter probably won’t be with the Nets long-term, as the 27-year-old forward doesn’t necessarily fit their rebuilding timeline. The Nets had signaled to teams around the league that they would be willing to take on unwanted, short-term contracts for draft picks, and now executive Sean Marks has added a very valuable future first-round pick from Denver to his arsenal.</p><p>By 2032, Nikola Jokic will be 37 years old and nearing the end of his career. This unprotected first-round pick could wind up being a very valuable lottery selection years from now. While the Nets could hold onto this pick seven years from now, they could also flip it in a future trade when they are ready to emerge as threats in the Eastern Conference and pursue superstar talents.</p><p>Johnson joins the Nuggets as an impactful player on the wing who can directly contribute to Denver’s championship efforts. Last season was Johnson’s best in the league, as he averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 39.0 percent from 3-point range.</p><p>The 29-year-old forward brings championship experience with him to Denver, as he was a key part of the Phoenix Suns in 2021 when they fell to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals.</p><p>With new front-office personnel taking over and the need to surround Jokic with championship-caliber talents in a crowded Western Conference, the Nuggets finally parted ways with Michael Porter Jr. on Monday night.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nuggets trade Michael Porter Jr. to Nets in bombshell Cam Johnson deal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-brooklyn-retains-big-man-free-agency-12-million-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets retain key big man in free agency with $12 million contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_25130035.jpg"><figcaption>Jan 6, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe (20) controls the ball against Indiana Pacers center Thomas Bryant (3) during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nets retain key big man in free agency with $12 million contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T10:20:04-07:00">June 30th, 10:20am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T10:40:05-07:00">June 30th, 10:40am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>On the opening day of NBA free agency, the Brooklyn Nets locked down Day’Ron Sharpe on a multi-year contract. Sharpe will return to the Nets on a two-year, $12 million contract, first reported by Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto and confirmed by ClutchPoints. The deal includes a team option in year two.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-brooklyn-brings-back-former-top-pick-12-million-contract">The Nets signed Ziaire Williams to the same contract</a> earlier on Monday. They <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-brooklyn-sends-cam-thomas-rfa-lets-2-contributors-hit-market">declined to tender qualifying offers to Sharpe and Williams</a> on Sunday, making them unrestricted free agents. However, they swiftly agreed to multi-year deals with both players to bring them back to Brooklyn.</p><h2>Nets sign Day’Ron Sharpe to multi-year contract on opening day of NBA free agency</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_25692553.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Sharpe’s two-year, $12 million agreement presents excellent value for the Nets. The 23-year-old is coming off a career-best season during which he averaged 7.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 52/24/76 shooting splits in 18.1 minutes per game.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-the-beast-made-history-valiant-effort-vs-thunder">Sharpe continued to dominate</a> on the boards in 2024-25, posting a 17.8 offensive rebound percentage. That was the second-highest among all NBA players to play at least 600 minutes, trailing only Steven Adams.</p><p>Defensively, the fourth-year center showcased improved mobility against the pick-and-roll. He was effective while hedging onto ball-handlers in an aggressive scheme under first-year head coach Jordi Fernandez. <a href="https://cleaningtheglass.com/stats/team/3/onoff#tab-team_efficiency" rel="noopener">Opponents scored 6.7 fewer points</a> per 100 possessions with Sharpe on the floor, the NBA’s sixth-best mark among centers who played over 600 minutes, per CleaningTheGlass.</p><p>The Nets outscored opponents by 13.3 points per 100 possessions during Sharpe’s minutes, the NBA’s eighth-best mark among players who played at least 600 minutes.</p><p>Sharpe’s new deal follows a similar timeline to Nic Claxton, who signed a two-year, $17 million contract following his rookie deal. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/why-nic-claxtons-97m-contract-details-big-win-nets">Claxton showed substantial improvement</a> during those two seasons and signed a four-year, $97 million contract with Brooklyn last summer.</p><p>The Nets will hope to see similar improvement from Sharpe, who they selected with the No. 29 pick in the 2021 draft, as they move forward in their rebuild.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets retain key big man in free agency with $12 million contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-brooklyn-brings-back-former-top-pick-12-million-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets bring back former top-10 pick on $12 million contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_25851400.jpg"><figcaption>Mar 29, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (8) looks on during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nets bring back former top-10 pick on $12 million contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T07:52:19-07:00">June 30th, 7:52am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T10:40:44-07:00">June 30th, 10:40am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Brooklyn Nets are bringing back a trade acquisition from last season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/former-top-10-pick-reveals-free-agent-desires-career-season-nets">Free agent forward Ziaire Williams</a> intends to re-sign with the team on a two-year, $12 million contract, first reported by ESPN and confirmed by ClutchPoints. The deal includes a team option in year two.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/grading-nets-grizzlies-ziaire-williams-trade">Brooklyn acquired Williams and a second-round pick</a> from the Memphis Grizzlies in a salary dump last summer. The No. 10 pick in the 2021 draft <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nets-trade-acquisition-could-draw-interest-free-agency-improved-season">had the best season of his career</a> while stepping into a rotation role with the Nets. He <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/willizi02.html" rel="noopener">averaged</a> 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals on 41/34/82 shooting splits over 63 appearances and 45 starts.</p><h2>Nets kick off NBA free agency by re-signing Ziaire Williams to two-year deal</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_25804825.jpg"><figcaption>Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (8) takes a shot during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena.</figcaption></figure><p>Williams’ three-point struggles held him back throughout his Grizzlies tenure. However, the 23-year-old made significant strides as an outside shooter in Jordi Fernandez’s offense. He shot 34.1 percent from three on 4.8 attempts per game, both career-highs.</p><p>Williams also emerged as a quality point-of-attack defender in Brooklyn’s rotation. The Stanford product consistently used his 6-foot-9 frame and 6-foot-10 wingspan to bother opposing ball-handlers and press up into passing lanes.</p><p>With his new contract, Williams enters another audition year in 2025-26 with the Nets. Should he build upon the improvement he showed last season, Brooklyn can bring him back on what would be a significant value contract ($6 million) in 2026-27.</p><p>“I tried to just trust their process, trust their vision. From day one, they told me exactly what they wanted out of me, and that was the standard I tried to hold myself to every night,” Williams said at his exit interview. “This season was definitely a positive step in my career. It was a step I was nervous to take. I was scared to take… I’m just happy I’m here, and happy I was able to re-identify myself and know the things that I’m good at. Just be able to focus on those things.</p><p>“Jordi [Fernandez] made it so easy for me. Really just played my butt off and shot the ball. It was that simple. I think the simplicity of what he wanted out of me was what allowed me to grow and play free and just be myself. I wasn’t thinking. I haven’t felt that way in a while… Hopefully, we get even better, I get better… We can make it to the playoffs and keep slowly making progress from there.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets bring back former top-10 pick on $12 million contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-brooklyn-sends-cam-thomas-rfa-lets-2-contributors-hit-market');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets send Cam Thomas to RFA, let 2 contributors hit open market');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_25620869_487637.jpg"><figcaption>Mar 8, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) drives on Charlotte Hornets guard Nick Smith Jr. (8) during the second quarter at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nets send Cam Thomas to RFA, let 2 contributors hit open market</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T15:01:25-07:00">June 29th, 3:01pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T15:13:59-07:00">June 29th, 3:13pm</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Brooklyn Nets made decisions on several free agents on Sunday. They extended a qualifying offer to Cam Thomas, but not to Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams, league sources confirmed to ClutchPoints. Thomas is now a restricted free agent, while Sharpe and Williams are unrestricted.</p><p>Thomas emerged as Brooklyn’s leading scorer over the last two seasons, averaging 22.9 points on 44/36/86 shooting splits over 91 appearances. As the NBA’s only team with cap space, the Nets hold significant leverage in negotiations with the 23-year-old. Opposing teams seeking to sign Thomas to an offer sheet will be limited to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($14.1 million).</p><p>League sources have told ClutchPoints they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-cam-thomas-reaffirms-stance-return-ahead-free-agency">expect Thomas’ next deal to fall within the range</a> of $20-$25 million annually. Brooklyn has the right to match any offer made to the former first-round pick. Because the Nets retained Thomas’ bird rights by tendering him a qualifying offer, they can exceed the cap to re-sign him after utilizing their cap space.</p><h2>Nets make free agent decisions on Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe, Ziaire Williams</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_24824926.jpg"><figcaption>Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Sharpe and Williams will hit the open market after the Nets declined to tender them qualifying offers. However, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-free-agent-predictions-exclusive-negotiating-period-begins">Brooklyn is interested</a> in bringing back both players on new deals, league sources told ClutchPoints.</p><p>By renouncing Sharpe and Williams’ rights, the Nets added to their cap space. Sharpe had a $12 million cap hold, a number assigned to a team’s books that acts as a placeholder for free agents, while Williams’ was $18.4 million. Had the Nets tendered qualifying offers to both players, those holds would have counted against their cap space.</p><p>Williams’ annual salary on his new contract will fall well below his cap hold, making it logical for Brooklyn to rescind his rights.</p><p>Sharpe’s next salary could approach $12 million. However, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/cap" rel="noopener">with over</a> $45 million in cap space, the Nets can afford to let him test the market. They can beat any offer made to the fourth-year center, who <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-dayron-sharpe-reveals-free-agent-desires-after-career-season">has voiced a desire to remain in Brooklyn</a>.</p><p>The Nets can use their added cap flexibility to absorb salary dumps in return for draft capital. They made such a move on Tuesday, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/terance-mann-has-crazy-reaction-after-being-traded-to-nets">acquiring Terance Mann and the No. 22 pick</a> in the draft from the Atlanta Hawks. Brooklyn could also use its space to sign other free agents.</p><p>Free agency opens on Monday at 6 PM EST.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets send Cam Thomas to RFA, let 2 contributors hit open market

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/brooklyn-nets-2025-nba-draft-grade-no-22-pick-drake-powell');   ga('set', 'title', 'Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grade for No. 22 pick Drake Powell');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_25149308.jpg"><figcaption>Jan 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Drake Powell (9) signals to the passer for the assist in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grade for No. 22 pick Drake Powell</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T09:22:14-07:00">June 29th, 9:22am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T09:29:33-07:00">June 29th, 9:29am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>A consistent theme <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/sean-marks-reveals-nets-motivation-egor-demin-selection">emerged from the Brooklyn Nets’ 2025 NBA Draft</a>. Aside from the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-sean-marks-reveals-brooklyn-nba-record-five-first-round-picks">historic volume of picks</a>, the team targeted ball-handlers known for their playmaking ability. The Nets’ lone deviation from that philosophy came at the No. 22 pick, where they selected North Carolina wing Drake Powell.</p><p>Powell has arguably the best athletic profile of this year’s class. The 19-year-old measured 6-foot-5.25 barefoot with a 7-foot wingspan and weighed 205 pounds. He recorded a 43-inch max vertical leap, the highest at this year’s combine and the 14th-highest in combine history. Furthermore, he has elite straight-line speed and agility. Of the 73 players who tested at the combine, he ranked seventh in the shuttle run, eighth in the three-quarter court sprint, and 10th in the lane agility test.</p><p>Those athletic gifts and a high motor made Powell a defensive force during his lone college season.</p><h2>Nets add an elite athlete on the wing with No. 19 pick Drake Powell</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_25678075.jpg"><figcaption>Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Drake Powell moves incredibly well laterally, using his length and strong frame to pressure opposing ball handlers while guarding across multiple positions. The North Carolina native was equally effective off the ball, shrinking driving and passing lanes while giving second and third efforts to blow up offensive sets.</p><p>The concerns about Powell’s game arise on the other end. While there are questions about his shooting mechanics, he shot 38 percent from three on 2.6 attempts per game. However, he was very limited outside of his spot-up shooting with the Tar Heels.</p><p>Powell isn’t an advanced ball handler, which limits him as a threat in the pick-and-roll or isolation. He posted a 13.8 usage rate last season, the lowest among North Carolina’s nine rotation players. No wing <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6414203/2025/06/10/nba-draft-guide-2025-top-100-prospects-cooper-flagg/" rel="noopener">has ever been drafted</a> with a usage rate that low during his pre-draft season, according to the Athletic’s Sam Vecenie.</p><p>There is a poor track record of low-usage college players translating at the next level. Jon Diebler, A.J. Griffin, Dalen Terry, Johnny Furphy, Andre Jackson Jr., Caleb Houston, DeAndre Liggins, Ryan Dunn, Josh Primo and Chris Livingston are the only prospects since 2008 to be drafted with a usage rate below 17.0.</p><p>Yet, Powell has some redeeming offensive qualities that should give him an NBA role. He was efficient on his jump shots and showed solid awareness as a cutter. In addition, he’s a relatively high-feel passer, consistently making correct reads and delivering passes on target. If his jump shot remains consistent and he can develop his handle, he could be an intriguing upside bet.</p><p>Jordi Fernandez has also made it clear he wants the Nets to play in transition at a high rate. Powell’s athletic abilities should enable him to excel in that area.</p><p>While he’s not a lead ball-handler and playmaker, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/top-25-ncaa-prospects-watch-2025-nba-draft">Powell fits another theme</a> of Brooklyn’s draft: betting on players with high pedigree. The Nets’ first two selections, Egor Demin and Nolan Traore, were projected top-10 picks at this time last year. Many considered Powell a lottery talent as a five-star recruit and the No. 2-ranked small forward in the Class of 2024.</p><p>Ultimately, if Powell’s outside shooting continues to develop, he checks all the boxes to be a productive three-and-D wing. His ceiling will hinge on Brooklyn’s ability to unlock the on-ball skills that made him one of the nation’s top recruits.</p><p><b>Grade: B+</b></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grade for No. 22 pick Drake Powell

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/dallas-mavericks/mavericks-rumors-dallas-overwhelming-favorite-sign-dangelo-russell');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mavericks rumors: Dallas the ‘overwhelming favorite’ to sign D’Angelo Russell');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Mavericks-overwhelming-favorite-sign-DAngelo-Russell.jpg"><figcaption>© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mavericks rumors: Dallas the ‘overwhelming favorite’ to sign D’Angelo Russell</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T08:50:15-07:00">June 29th, 8:50am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T08:50:15-07:00">June 29th, 8:50am</time><address><a>Preston Byers</a>Preston Byers is an experienced writer and journalist who currently serves as an associate editor for ClutchPoints and as a staff writer at The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle, where he covers sports in the Mahoning Valley. Previously, Preston worked as an associate editor for Dot Esports and a site expert for FanSided's Union and Blue.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/dallas-mavericks">The Dallas Mavericks</a> have reportedly honed in on their replacement point guard for the injured Kyrie Irving<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/players/b97409dd/dangelo-russell">: D’Angelo Russell.</a></p><p>According to NBA insider Marc Stein, <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-lots-more-of-the-latest" rel="noopener">who has long been</a> plugged in with the Mavericks, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/dallas-mavericks/mavericks-rumors-kyrie-irving-make-dallas-a-leading-suitor-dangelo-russell">Russell is believed to be by other teams a top target for Dallas</a> this offseason.</p><p>“The Mavericks continue to be described by rival teams as the overwhelming favorites to sign D’Angelo Russell away from Brooklyn to be their starting point guard while Kyrie Irving continues his rehabilitation from a torn ACL,” Stein wrote for The Stein Line.</p><p>Russell, 29, spent last season with the Los Angeles Lakers and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-dangelo-russell-trade-nets-4-player-trade">then the Brooklyn Nets following a trade</a> in late December 2024. The second overall pick in the 2015 draft, Russell has proven to be a top-notch scorer and distributor at his peak, but the 2024-25 season was by far the worst of his NBA career.</p><p>Between the Lakers and Nets, Russell’s playing time not only reached a career low, but he proved to be far more ineffective than he had previously shown. Aside from his rookie season, Russell has not averaged fewer points per 36 minutes than last season. Additionally, his 3-point shooting shockingly suffered; after back-to-back seasons hovering around or above 40% on 3-pointers, Russell shot 31.4% from beyond the arc in 2024-25, which ranks as the worst mark of his career. Previously, he had shot below 34% in a season only once.</p><p>The context in which all that happened cannot be ignored, though, as Russell was the subject of numerous trade rumors a year or more before he ultimately was dealt by the Lakers. And when he arrived in Brooklyn, he joined a franchise with little incentive to try to win games. As a result, the Nets traded multiple players who could have been of help in that regard, including Dennis Schroder, as well as Dorian Finney-Smith, for whom the Lakers traded Russell.</p><p>Now, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-brian-windhorst-left-dumbfounded-over-brooklyn-draft-picks">after drafting three guards and four players total</a> in the first round of this past week’s NBA Draft, the Nets have little reason to seriously pursue the idea of retaining Russell, who just completed a two-year, $36 million contract extension that he signed with the Lakers two offseasons ago.</p><p>As for the Mavericks, they could certainly use Russell, particularly if he regains the form he had even two seasons ago. Dallas will likely be without starting guard Kyrie Irving for most of or the entire 2024-25 season after suffering a torn ACL in March.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mavericks rumors: Dallas the ‘overwhelming favorite’ to sign D’Angelo Russell

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/3-oklahoma-city-thunder-trade-targets-after-winning-2025-nba-finals');   ga('set', 'title', '3 Oklahoma City Thunder trade targets after winning 2025 NBA Finals');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/X-Oklahoma-City-Thunder-trade-targets-after-winning-2025-NBA-Finals-1.jpg"></figure><h1>3 Oklahoma City Thunder trade targets after winning 2025 NBA Finals</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-28T07:43:56-07:00">June 28th, 7:43am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-28T07:43:56-07:00">June 28th, 7:43am</time><address><a>Garrett Kerman</a>Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He covers all combat sports, from MMA, to boxing, to even bare-knuckle. He is also very well-versed in all American sports when it comes to news and betting analysis. Whether you want betting advice or some breaking news, Garrett is your guy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/thunder-news-alex-caruso-gushes-aaron-wiggins-mic-drop-moment-parade">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> have captured their first NBA championship, but Sam Presti and the front office are already plotting how to extend this window and build a dynasty. With a roster loaded with young talent, a deep war chest of draft picks, and financial flexibility, OKC is uniquely positioned to pursue bold moves. Here are three realistic trade targets who could help the Thunder repeat as champions—and the deals that could bring them to Oklahoma City.</p><h2>Giannis Antetokounmpo</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/X-Oklahoma-City-Thunder-trade-targets-after-winning-2025-NBA-Finals.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/bucks-rumors-shams-teases-giannis-antetokounmpo-resolution-later-summer">Giannis Antetokounmpo</a> remains one of the most dominant two-way forces in basketball, and although he hasn’t formally requested a trade, recent reports indicate he’s open-minded about his future outside Milwaukee. For the Thunder, acquiring Giannis would be a franchise-altering move, instantly making them favorites to repeat and cementing their status as the league’s next great dynasty.</p><p><b>Proposed Trade:</b></p><p>This deal gives Milwaukee a blue-chip young big in Holmgren, two rotation-ready forwards, and a treasure trove of picks to kickstart a rebuild or retool around Damian Lillard. For OKC, pairing Giannis with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams creates a terrifying core, and the Thunder’s depth and remaining draft assets ensure they can weather the loss of Holmgren and picks.</p><h2>Cameron Johnson</h2><p>The Thunder’s perimeter attack could use another high-volume, high-efficiency shooter, and Cameron Johnson fits the bill perfectly. Johnson has shot 39% or better from three in five of his six NBA seasons, and he’s coming off a year with career-high volume (7.2 attempts per game). His size and defensive versatility make him a seamless fit in OKC’s switch-heavy scheme.</p><p><b>Proposed Trade:</b></p><h2>John Collins</h2><p>Despite a strong championship run, the Thunder could use more frontcourt scoring and rebounding. John Collins, who just exercised his $26.5 million player option with the Jazz, is coming off a bounce-back season: 19.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 39.9% from three. His ability to play both the four and five gives OKC lineup flexibility, especially if they move Holmgren in a blockbuster.</p><p><b>Proposed Trade:</b></p><p>Utah acquires two young forwards with upside and a 2027 first-round pick via Houston, continuing their asset accumulation strategy. Collins gives OKC a proven scorer and rebounder who can stretch the floor, complementing Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams while lightening the load on Chet Holmgren, if he’s not included in a separate blockbuster.</p><h2><b>Why These Targets?</b></h2><p>Adding any of these three players would send a clear message that the Thunder are not content with just one championship, they want to build a sustainable winner that can compete for titles year after year. The flexibility of their roster and the sheer volume of future draft picks give GM Sam Presti a rare advantage in trade negotiations. Unlike many contenders who mortgage their futures for a single star, OKC can afford to make bold moves while still maintaining a pipeline of young talent and assets for future seasons.</p><p>Giannis Antetokounmpo would bring a level of star power and championship experience that could galvanize the locker room and elevate the Thunder’s already elite defense. His ability to dominate both ends of the floor would relieve pressure on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and allow the team to experiment with even more creative lineups. Meanwhile, Cameron Johnson’s shooting and defensive versatility would make him a plug-and-play option, capable of closing games alongside the Thunder’s core. John Collins, with his athleticism and improved three-point shooting, would give OKC another dimension in the frontcourt, especially against bigger playoff opponents.</p><p>The Thunder’s championship window is wide open, but the Western Conference remains fiercely competitive. By targeting a superstar like Giannis, a sharpshooter like Johnson, or a versatile big like Collins, OKC can further solidify its status as the NBA’s next dynasty. With Sam Presti’s aggressive mindset and the franchise’s asset base, don’t be surprised if one of these bold moves becomes reality before the 2025-26 season tips off.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 Oklahoma City Thunder trade targets after winning 2025 NBA Finals

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-brooklyn-cuts-trade-acquisition-roster-crunch-historic-draft');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets cut trade acquisition amid roster crunch following historic draft');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_25851354.jpg"><figcaption>Mar 29, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Maxwell Lewis (27) looks on during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nets cut trade acquisition amid roster crunch following historic draft</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-27T13:21:10-07:00">June 27th, 1:21pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-27T13:26:03-07:00">June 27th, 1:26pm</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-sean-marks-reveals-brooklyn-nba-record-five-first-round-picks">Brooklyn Nets are facing a roster crunch</a> after making an NBA-record five first-round picks in the 2025 NBA draft. They took their first step towards addressing it on Friday, waiving forward Maxwell Lewis.</p><p>Lewis, the 40th pick in the 2023 draft, was on a non-guaranteed contract after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-trade-grade-dangelo-russell-dorian-finney-smith-deal">joining the team alongside D’Angelo Russell in a midseason trade</a> that sent Dorian Finney-Smith to the Los Angeles Lakers. The 6-foot-7 forward missed two months after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-brooklyn-trade-acquisition-suffers-serious-knee-injury-first-minutes-with-team">fracturing his tibia during his Nets debut</a>. He averaged 5.3 points and 2.5 rebounds on 42/38/70 shooting splits in 14.2 minutes per game over 21 appearances upon his return.</p><p>Brooklyn’s decision to waive Lewis is the first of several upcoming roster decisions following the team’s historic draft.</p><h2>Nets waive Maxwell Lewis amid roster crunch after historic draft class</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_25866205.jpg"><figcaption>Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After cutting Lewis, the Nets <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/yearly" rel="noopener">have eight players on standard contracts</a>. With five rookies incoming, four free agents (Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe, Ziaire Williams, Trendon Watford) who could re-sign, and the potential to add more to the roster using cap space, the team will face decisions on several contributors from last season.</p><p>That group likely consists of Keon Johnson, Jalen Wilson, Tyrese Martin and Drew Timme. Johnson is on a partially guaranteed minimum contract, while Wilson, Martin, and Timme are on non-guaranteed minimum deals.</p><p>Johnson was the most productive of the bunch last season. The former first-round pick appeared in 79 games with 56 starts, averaging 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He ranked third in field goal attempts (9.9 per game) among players who finished the season with the team. However, he struggled with efficiency, shooting just 38.9 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from three.</p><p>Wilson is entering his third season after the Nets selected him with the No. 51 pick in the 2023 draft. The former Big-12 Player of the Year and 2024 Summer League MVP averaged 9.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 40/34/82 shooting splits in 2024-25.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Nets converted Martin from a two-way to a standard contract midway through the year. The 25-year-old swingman had a promising season, averaging 8.7 points while shooting 35.1 percent from three on 4.7 attempts per game.</p><p>Timme signed a 10-day contract with Brooklyn late in the season before earning a two-year deal. The former Gonzaga star averaged 12.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on 44/26/63 shooting splits over nine appearances. He is eligible to sign a two-way contract if the Nets were to waive him.</p><p>Johnson, Wilson, Martin and Timme are all candidates to play for the Nets’ Summer League team in Las Vegas. Brooklyn has yet to announce its roster, but will play its first game on July 10.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets cut trade acquisition amid roster crunch following historic draft

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/brooklyn-nets-nba-draft-grade-no-19-pick-nolan-traore');   ga('set', 'title', 'Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grade for No. 19 pick Nolan Traore');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_26533721.jpg"><figcaption>Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA;  Nolan Traore reacts after being selected as the 19th pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grade for No. 19 pick Nolan Traore</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-27T10:13:26-07:00">June 27th, 10:13am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-28T08:03:36-07:00">June 28th, 8:03am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/brooklyn-nets-2025-nba-draft-grade-for-no-8-pick-egor-demin">selecting Egor Demin with the No. 8 pick</a> in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Brooklyn Nets took a swing on another point guard. Sean Marks and co. took French floor general Nolan Traore with the No. 19 pick.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-news-french-star-balled-out-vs-cooper-flagg-enters-draft">Traore was widely considered a top-five prospect</a> in the class at this time last year. However, he struggled for large stretches of the season while playing in France’s top professional league. The 19-year-old averaged 12.3 points, 4.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds on 41/31/71 shooting splits over 44 appearances with Saint-Quentin in the LNB Elite.</p><h2>Nets take a chance on Nolan Traore’s upside with No. 19 pick in 2025 NBA Draft</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_25567899.jpg"><figcaption>Franck Faugere/Presse Sports via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Traore has numerous traits that make him an intriguing upside bet for the Nets in the late first round. While nowhere near Demin’s size, he has solid measurables for a point guard at 6-foot-3 without shoes with a 6-foot-8 wingspan.</p><p>The 19-year-old is one of the fastest north-south players in the draft, consistently turning the corner off ball screens and touching the paint. He has an impressive handle with several change-of-direction moves that allow him to work to his spots.</p><p>Like Demin, Traore boasts high-level playmaking ability. However, unlike Brooklyn’s top selection, he <a href="https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1938060916274184680" rel="noopener">consistently creates advantages</a> off the dribble, using his quickness, pace and change of direction to draw help defenders and find his teammates. Defensively, he has the length and lateral agility to bother opposing ball-handlers, although he’ll need to work on remaining engaged consistently.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Brooklyn Nets have selected Nolan Traore with the No. 19 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.</p><p>The Nets are keeping this pick, pairing Traore with Egor Demin, who they selected at No. 8. <a href="https://t.co/Jt5KsSORx2">pic.twitter.com/Jt5KsSORx2</a></p><p>— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) <a href="https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1938060916274184680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Yet, several drawbacks led to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/2025-nba-draft-big-board-5-0-76ers-final-ace-bailey-vj-edgecombe-decision">Traore’s plummet from a top-five prospect</a> to a late teens selection. Like Demin, his jumper is a concern, as he struggled from the mid-range and converted just 31.4 percent of his threes this season.</p><p>While Traore boasts impressive speed, he isn’t an exceptional leaper and mostly plays below the rim. He’ll have to improve as an outside shooter and be comfortable finishing floaters or mid-range pull-ups to excel as a scorer. Turnovers were also a struggle for him during stretches of the 2024-25 campaign.</p><p>Overall, Traore is another upside swing whose outcome will hinge on his development as an outside shooter. The pick will confuse some NBA personnel after the Nets used a top-10 selection on Demin. However, a gamble at No. 19 for a player with Traore’s tools and pedigree is understandable given Brooklyn’s rebuilding timeline.</p><p><b>Grade: B+</b></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grade for No. 19 pick Nolan Traore

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-egor-demin-addresses-luka-doncic-comparisons-after-brooklyn-selection');   ga('set', 'title', 'Egor Demin addresses Luka Doncic comparisons after Nets’ selection');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_25783575.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Egor Demin addresses Luka Doncic comparisons after Nets’ selection</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-27T08:42:39-07:00">June 27th, 8:42am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-27T08:43:33-07:00">June 27th, 8:43am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Egor Demin, the 6-foot-9 guard out of BYU <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/sean-marks-reveals-nets-motivation-egor-demin-selection">selected No. 8 overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2025 NBA Draft</a>, recently <a href="https://x.com/SidelinewithAK/status/1938374079058243945" rel="noopener">responded to comparisons</a> with Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic following his first-round selection.</p><p>Speaking with Andy Katz on The Sideline, the 19-year-old addressed the similarities while making it clear that his focus is on building his own path.</p><p>“I think I’m looking more from the details from each player and from some pieces kind of building myself and not trying to be somebody else, right?” Demin said. “But obviously, I hear a lot of comparison with Luka [Doncic] as a big guard who sees above the heads of the defenders who can pass the ball very good and play pick-and-roll.”</p><p>Demin continued by reinforcing that his goal is to create his own identity as a player.</p><p>“But again, it’s not like I’m trying to be him. Luka is Luka, Egor is Egor,” he said. “So I’m just trying to build myself and my own role player that I’m looking at and I’m reaching there right? And these players have no name, it’s just me in the future. So, that’s pretty much what I’m thinking of.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">What can we expect from Egor Demin on the <a href="https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrooklynNets</a> ⁉️</p><p>🎧: <a href="https://t.co/QjcvG01jTg">https://t.co/QjcvG01jTg</a><a href="https://twitter.com/TheAndyKatz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheAndyKatz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BYUCougars?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BYUCougars</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BYUMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BYUMBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarchMadnessMBB</a> <a href="https://t.co/GlP3fwZURT">pic.twitter.com/GlP3fwZURT</a></p><p>— Andy Katz (@SidelinewithAK) <a href="https://twitter.com/SidelinewithAK/status/1938374079058243945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Egor Demin headlines historic draft class as Nets commit to full rebuild</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_26532996.jpg"><figcaption>Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Egor Demin stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the eighth pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>A native of Russia, Demin played one season at BYU before declaring for the draft. In 33 games, he averaged 10.6 points, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 41.2% from the field. His unique blend of size and playmaking has fueled the Doncic comparisons, particularly as another tall European guard entering the league at a young age.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-sean-marks-reveals-brooklyn-nba-record-five-first-round-picks">Demin was the first of five players selected by Brooklyn</a> on Wednesday night. The Nets also drafted Nolan Traore (No. 19), Drake Powell (No. 22), Ben Saraf (No. 26), and Danny Wolf (No. 27), becoming the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-brian-windhorst-left-dumbfounded-over-brooklyn-draft-picks">first team in NBA history to use five first-round picks in a single draft</a>.</p><p>Brooklyn’s decision to retain all five selections rather than package them in trades drew strong reactions from around the league. The approach signals a full commitment to youth development under new head coach Jordi Fernandez following a 26–56 finish to the 2024–25 season, which left the team 12th in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>Demin is expected to compete for immediate playing time in a backcourt rotation that lacks long-term stability. With his combination of size, vision, and poise, the Nets are betting on his upside as a cornerstone in their rebuilding process.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Brooklyn
Nets NEWS

Nets News: Get the latest Brooklyn Nets news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

Latest Nets News

Grading Nets’ Michael Porter Jr., Cam Johnson trade with Nuggets

Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick

Nuggets trade Michael Porter Jr. to Nets in bombshell Cam Johnson deal

Nets retain key big man in free agency with $12 million contract

Nets bring back former top-10 pick on $12 million contract

Nets send Cam Thomas to RFA, let 2 contributors hit open market

Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grade for No. 22 pick Drake Powell

• Mavericks rumors: Dallas the ‘overwhelming favorite’ to sign D’Angelo Russell

• 3 Oklahoma City Thunder trade targets after winning 2025 NBA Finals

• Nets cut trade acquisition amid roster crunch following historic draft

• Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grade for No. 19 pick Nolan Traore

• Egor Demin addresses Luka Doncic comparisons after Nets’ selection

BrooklynNets NEWS

Nets News: Get the latest Brooklyn Nets news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

Latest Nets News

Grading Nets’ Michael Porter Jr., Cam Johnson trade with Nuggets

Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick

Nuggets trade Michael Porter Jr. to Nets in bombshell Cam Johnson deal

Nets retain key big man in free agency with $12 million contract

Nets bring back former top-10 pick on $12 million contract

Nets send Cam Thomas to RFA, let 2 contributors hit open market

Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grade for No. 22 pick Drake Powell

• Mavericks rumors: Dallas the ‘overwhelming favorite’ to sign D’Angelo Russell

• 3 Oklahoma City Thunder trade targets after winning 2025 NBA Finals

• Nets cut trade acquisition amid roster crunch following historic draft

• Brooklyn Nets 2025 NBA Draft grade for No. 19 pick Nolan Traore

• Egor Demin addresses Luka Doncic comparisons after Nets’ selection

Brooklyn
Nets NEWS