Brooklyn

Nets

If Thursday’s game was the last for Brown in Las Vegas, he’ll head home with a sour taste in his mouth. The rookie guard shot 2-of-10 from beyond the arc and was 1-of-5 from two, as he struggled at times with Houston’s physical perimeter defense. However, given the time he missed during his lone college season due to a back injury, Brown’s ability to play starters’ minutes this summer is a positive. With Ben Saraf struggling in summer play and Nolan Traoré unavailable due to injury, Brown should go into training camp with a legitimate chance of earning significant playing time, if not the starting point guard role.

Thursday’s defeat likely ended the Nets’ chances of earning a spot in the Summer League semifinals, so this may have been the last action that Dëmin will see in Las Vegas. Like many of his teammates, the second-year guard got off to a slow start before helping the Nets mount a rally early in the fourth quarter. Dëmin shot 5-of-16 from deep against the Rockets, but the increased comfort with the perimeter shot makes him a player worth grabbing in the latter rounds of drafts in the fall. Of the four 2025 first-round picks who were active for the Nets this summer, Dëmin was the best performer by a significant distance.

Coming off a rookie season in which he offered limited production, Powell is looking to use summer league as a springboard into Year Two. He shot the ball well against the Kings, making four of his seven three-point attempts. As a rookie, Powell shot 28 percent from deep on 2.9 attempts per game. He did not offer much offensive production in Brooklyn’s first two games in Las Vegas, so the coaching staff will certainly appreciate Tuesday’s breakout performance. Powell is unlikely to be worth the risk in redraft leagues, but he’s worth holding onto in deeper dynasty formats.

After scoring 20 points in his first Las Vegas appearance on Friday, Brown did not play against the Hawks on Saturday. Back in action on Tuesday, the rookie point guard put together a solid floor game in Brooklyn’s 32-point victory. Given what the Nets saw from the point guards they selected in the first round of last year’s draft, Nolan Traoré and Ben Saraf, Brown should have every opportunity to earn significant rotation minutes when training camp opens in the fall. He’s looked up to the task thus far, and Brown’s back has not been an issue after missing 14 games at Louisville last season.

Dëmin and the Nets moved to 2-1 in Las Vegas with a 115-83 victory on Tuesday, and he had another stellar showing. The second-year guard scored 20 points in the first half alone, helping Brooklyn eliminate any drama in the second half. Of the five players the Nets selected in the first round of last year’s draft, Dëmin is the one who has performed the best, both last season and this summer. While he wasn’t much of a fantasy asset as a rookie, the 6-foot-9 guard will be worth selecting in the late rounds of redraft leagues.

With Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin sitting out Saturday’s game, Saraf started at point guard and logged 32 minutes. He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but the second-year guard recorded five assists and earned some trips to the foul line. Saraf’s rookie season was one to forget due to injuries and inconsistent play, and he’ll once again face a lot of competition for rotation minutes when training camp opens in the fall.

After suffering a season-ending ankle injury in March, Wolf struggled in his first few appearances this summer. The Nets must have been pleased with what they saw from the 7-footer on Saturday, as he shot the ball well over 26 minutes. However, Wolf needs to do a better job of taking care of the basketball and defending without fouling, as those were issues against the Hawks. With the addition of Julius Randle, Wolf will likely be relegated to a bench role this season, which limits his value in redraft leagues.

Johnson, who’s on a two-way deal, had some moments late last season as the Nets played out the string. For him, this summer is about doing what he can to earn a more secure opportunity, and nights like Saturday will help. Johnson was energetic throughout, providing excellent value as a scorer and defender. Brooklyn’s addition of Julius Randle was a sign that the front office intends to compete next season, but that does not mean Johnson has no chance of earning another shot to prove himself.

Jefferson injured his ankle during the second round of the NCAA tournament and did not play in any of the Nets’ games in Salt Lake City or Friday’s win over the Knicks in Las Vegas. Despite not even participating in team practices, there is hope that the 6-foot-8 forward from Iowa State will make his summer debut on Saturday against the Hawks. Jefferson can do a little bit of everything at the forward position, which is why he worked his way into the first round of last month’s draft.

Dëmin played well during the California Classic and carried that into the Nets’ first game in Las Vegas on Friday. Heading into his second NBA season, the 6-foot-9 guard has scored 20 points or more in each of his last three summer appearances. While there is a significant difference between summer league and the regular season, Dëmin has shown signs of progress as a scorer. He’s been both aggressive and efficient, a balance some young players struggle with. We’re approaching the point where it would be fair to ask whether the Nets plan to shut Dëmin down.