Jordi Fernandez is such a good coach that Brooklyn has had to trade productive players just to keep him from out-winning the organization’s tank. It’s a cruel spot for Fernandez to be in, and it mirrors what we’ve seen with Will Hardy in Utah. However, the training wheels (or tanking wheels) are starting to come off.
Fernandez did an awesome job of rehabilitating Michael Porter Jr. last year. The Nets were compensated to take on the sharpshooting wing’s contract, and he averaged 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game on 46.3/36.3/85.9 shooting splits. Fernandez turned him into a positive trade asset, and Brooklyn easily could have flipped him over the summer. Instead, Porter will be on the roster on Opening Night, with Julius Randle, a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA performer, next to him.
The Nets picked up a pick for taking on Randle’s deal in the trade that sent LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves, and that’s probably the main reason he’s in Brooklyn. However, with the new relegation zone in the lottery, the Nets clearly see him helping them avoid the bottom. I happen to think he will, which is why this is an Over team for me when looking at win totals.
I just like the size and toughness that a frontcourt of Porter, Randle, and Day’Ron Sharpe brings to the table. The group should be very good on the glass, especially with a big backcourt.
That backcourt consists of rookie Mikel Brown Jr., the sixth pick in the draft who is electric as a shot creator, and Egor Demin, the eighth pick in 2025 who has a world of potential.
The Nets also have several recent first-round picks to keep developing, including Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf. On top of that, the front office added solid veterans in Keon Ellis and Terance Mann.
This team is more talented than it has been in a couple of years, and Fernandez won’t be asked to finish at the bottom of the standings. Don’t be surprised if this is an elite against-the-spread group and a team that far exceeds public expectations.
BURNING QUESTIONS
Is Demin about to become a household name?
The Nets clearly believe Brown has big-time potential. They took him at No. 6 when they could have gone with other high-upside prospects. But no matter what you think of Brown, it’s pretty clear Demin is the most important young player in Brooklyn.
Last year, Demin averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. His 39.9% field goal percentage was a bit of a mess for a 6-foot-8 player, but he shot 38.5% from deep. His three-ball was considered the one thing keeping him from becoming a special offensive talent, and it now looks like a strength.
With the jumper in good shape, Demin needs to be tougher attacking the rim and better at finishing once he gets there. Well, he packed on quite a bit of muscle this offseason, and he looked like a man among boys at the Vegas Summer League. Expect him to take another step forward in 2026-27, and don’t be surprised if he’s the best player on this team in a year or two.
Will the Nets trade Porter?
The Nets haven’t extended Porter, so he’ll play on his $40.8 million contract in 2026-27. That deal is expiring, and several playoff teams will have interest in adding it to the books. Porter was an absolute assassin last year, going from a pure movement shooter to showcasing some improved on-ball chops. He was clearly a bit underutilized in Denver, which is understandable with Nikola Jokic there. But he’s worth every dollar he’s making, and he’ll have suitors.
I’d like to see Brooklyn extend Porter, because a big-bodied shooter like that will only make life easier on the team’s young core. But the Nets could get some very strong trade offers, so they might be inclined to sell if they’re not in the Play-In picture come February.
Who else will establish themselves as long-term pieces in Brooklyn?
While the Nets hit on Demin in 2025, they took four other players in the first round: Traore, Powell, Saraf, and Wolf. Are any of them any good?
I’m a huge fan of Traore’s game. If any of the non-Demin 2025 picks are going to hit, I feel strongly it’ll be him. Traore has unteachable speed and a good-looking stroke, and he has bulked up a ton since the end of last season. He should be a sparkplug off the bench this year, and I wouldn’t even be stunned if he unseats Brown should Brooklyn be unhappy with the playmaking in its first unit.
The Nets also added Joshua Jefferson in the 2026 NBA Draft, using the pick acquired in the Randle deal to bring in the former Iowa State forward. Jefferson is a winner and a jack-of-all-trades type, so it isn’t hard to imagine him contributing to an improved Brooklyn team.
WIN TOTAL BEST BET: Over 23.5
