After 14 long years without a lottery pick, the Brooklyn Nets finally had the chance to add a guard who could reshape their backcourt and offer a fresh direction. They did select a guard by choosing Egor Demin, a 6-foot-9 playmaker from BYU, but he is not the guard they should have targeted.
Kasparas Jakucionis, a more polished and reliable scorer, was still available when the Nets made their choice. Passing on Jakucionis for Demin, a player with serious offensive inconsistencies and shooting struggles, leaves a lot to be questioned about Brooklyn’s draft approach.
Demin’s strengths are clear:
Overall, his court vision and passing ability stand out, especially for a player his size. He runs an offense smoothly and shows flashes of playmaking brilliance. But Brooklyn’s style and roster suggest they need a guard who can also consistently score and stretch the floor alongside Cam Thomas. Demin’s shooting percentages and scoring consistency fall short in that regard.
This is not just about short-term impact, Brooklyn can afford to develop players slowly. But drafting a project with glaring questions when a more polished option was available is still puzzling. It raises doubts about how the Nets evaluate talent and prioritize their needs.
Fans were hoping the first lottery pick since 2010 would send a strong message, signaling a clear direction for the rebuild. Instead, it feels like the Nets settled for potential without fully considering fit or upside. This pick does not inspire much confidence that Brooklyn’s front office knows exactly where they are headed.
There is no doubt Demin has tools worth exploring, but the decision to pass on Jakucionis and choose a player with notable flaws feels like a missed opportunity. Until Demin proves otherwise, this pick will hang over the Nets as a gamble that might not pay off, a frustrating step in my opinion that leaves more questions than answers.