The Brooklyn Nets have taken steps toward escaping the shadow of the 2013 and 2019 trades that sent the franchise spiraling into irrelevance. Burned by attempts to build around stars in their 30s, the Nets are back to the drawing board and prioritizing the NBA Draft.
One of the players whom the Nets selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft is already rewarding that approach: Danny Wolf.
Brooklyn selected Wolf with the No. 27 overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. He was fresh off of earning All-Big Ten honors for a stellar season with the Michigan Wolverines, during which he averaged 13.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.0 three-point field goal made per game.
Wolf had emerged as one of the most dynamic and versatile players in his class, possessing perimeter skills at 6'10.5" with a 7'2.25" wingspan.
Questions existed during the 2025 NBA Draft process pertaining to how Wolf's game would translate to the NBA. Some see him as more of a perimeter player in a big man's body, while others view his game as simply lacking a necessary definition.
Regardless of what Wolf ultimately becomes, he's utilizing Summer League to prove that his game tends to workâone way or another.
Danny Wolf is showing out at Summer League for the Nets
Wolf began Las Vegas Summer League with a quiet showing, posting four points, six rebounds, two assists, and a block against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It didn't take long for him to bounce back, as he turned a clash with Alex Sarr and the Washington Wizards into a breakout performance.
Wolf finished the game against Washington with six points, 10 rebounds, two assists, four blocks, and three steals, burying two of his three three-point field goal attempts along the way.
Wolf was absent from Brooklyn's next game, but came back strong against the Orlando Magic. He posted 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, and a block while shooting 6-of-12 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.
With excellent showings on both ends of the floor at Summer League, Wolf is providing insight into the type of value Brooklyn found late in the first round.
Beyond the numbers, Wolf offered a comprehensive view of what makes him so intriguing. He ran give-and-go action that required him to navigate the floor with the ball in his hands, passed teammates open out of post-ups, and knocked down midrange and three-point jump shots.
Wolf also showed the ability to operate as a traditional center on the defensive end of the floor, boxing out and crashing the boards, and even holding his own against the pick and roll.
Wolf's passing was easily his most impressive attribute, as he made plays from an almost endless list of angles to set his teammates up for scoring opportunities. He can dribble, post up, face up, and drive, and in every scenario, he's looking for ways to make creative and accurate passes to potential scorers.
The Nets were hoping to turn the No. 27 pick into something meaningful, and they may have found one of the better two-way big men in this class by taking a chance on Wolf.