The Nets’ first three preseason games offered a revealing look at their rookie guards, a glimpse at both their promise and their inexperience.
Nolan Traore showed the burst and change of pace that made him one of the most intriguing prospects in his class, pushing the tempo and attacking the paint with confidence.
Ben Saraf brought steadiness to the floor, highlighted by an 11-assist performance in his latest outing, orchestrating the offense with poise and finding teammates in rhythm.
And Drake Powell, despite joining training camp late, made his mark defensively by forcing turnovers, jumping passing lanes and showcasing the athleticism and energy that define his game.
For head coach Jordi Fernández, those flashes are exactly what this stage of the preseason is meant for. His focus isn’t on wins or losses but on progress, teaching his young guards to play fast, think clearly and develop habits that will shape Brooklyn’s future.
“I feel like we’re ahead of where we were last year, because of the support system that I have; and not just the coaching staff, but also the front office, the relationship with ownership,” Fernández said. “And then with that, players that were here last year. Not a better or worse summer; it was a different summer, but a very good summer. And all those things together just make me feel better.”
All told, Brooklyn’s backcourt development project is off to a promising start. The next step is helping its young guards learn to value possessions and limit the mistakes that come with learning the speed and complexity of NBA defenses.
The Nets have committed 74 total turnovers through three preseason games, including 34 in their first matchup against the Phoenix Suns in Macao. Traore, Saraf and Powell have accounted for 22.9 percent of those mistakes, a reflection of both their heavy involvement in initiating the offense and the steep learning curve that comes with handling NBA pressure.
“We still have to keep working on cutters and reads, especially against teams like Phoenix that are so good at pressuring and they’re good defensively and very aggressive,” Fernández said. “I thought for us it was the best thing to go through, because it’s really hard to execute with teams that have high-level defenders. It’s going to be a learning process, you know?… So, I’m happy with what I’ve seen, but we still have a long way to go.”
It’s a high number, but not surprising for a trio still learning to balance pace, reads and control. Traore is averaging three turnovers per game so far this preseason, while Saraf has averaged two and Powell one. Fernández sees those mistakes as part of the process, the byproduct of growth that comes with learning rhythm, timing and decision-making at the NBA level.
And now Egor Demin’s education can begin. The eighth overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft is set to make his Nets debut Friday against the Toronto Raptors.
“We’re going to have to keep helping them, but that’s going to force them to take the next step and the next step after, and so on and so forth,” Fernández said. “So, you know, very happy so far, what they bring to the group. Very happy to bring, now, Egor into the mix, and they all feel like they have to compete really hard. And most importantly, take advantage of their minutes.”
That internal competition between youth, opportunity and patience is exactly what Brooklyn hoped to create when it invested in upside this summer. The foundation is still raw, but it’s beginning to take shape.
