Just when you thought the Brooklyn Nets were done with the Ben Simmons experiment, they go and draft Egor Demin, a player who ticks almost all the same boxes. It is honestly baffling, considering they only recently moved on from Simmons because he did not fit their team’s needs.
Demin is a big guard with impressive passing skills and court vision. He has some traits that are valuable, no doubt. At BYU, he proved he can run an offense and rack up assists. But here is the issue with this selection: just like Simmons, Demin struggles to score efficiently. His shooting is poor, his handle is limited, and he lacks the athletic burst to consistently create his own shot. In short, he does not have the scoring tools that a modern NBA guard really needs.
Why Brooklyn....why???
Brooklyn needed a guard who could spread the floor and create offense alongside Cam Thomas. Instead, they doubled down on a playmaker who does not pose a real scoring threat. This pick feels less like a step forward and more like déjà vu, drafting a player with the same limitations that pushed Simmons out of town.
What is even more frustrating is that Brooklyn had options on the board that might have been better fits. Instead, the front office seems stuck on potential passing ability without considering how Demin’s weaknesses could hold the team back.
This is not just about Demin as a player
This is about the Nets’ draft strategy and vision. Are they really committed to building a team around players who can’t score or create consistently? Or are they repeating past mistakes, hoping something different happens this time? The Nets’ decision raises serious questions about their direction. For a team eager to rebuild, drafting a Ben Simmons type right after trading Simmons feels less like smart planning and more like a confusing gamble.