Tonight, while most eyes were glued to Brooklyn’s No. 8 pick, a choice that frankly raised more questions than excitement, the real story might be what the Nets quietly did later in the first round. At No. 19, they grabbed Nolan Traore, a guard who feels like a stealthy second lottery pick, and in my opinion, a much smarter move.
Brooklyn’s first pick, Egor Demin, brought size and impressive court vision, but he was not the scorer or playmaker the team desperately needed. His inconsistent shooting and limited scoring upside left many fans frustrated. The Nets needed someone who could create and put points on the board more reliably, and Demin just did not fit that mold.
Why Nolan Traore makes more sense:
At 19 years old, standing 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, Traore blends rare length with explosive speed, a combination that NBA teams dream of. While he is also raw and needs work on his decision-making and shooting, his ability to blow by defenders and attack the rim gives Brooklyn something Demin unfortunately probably can't, which is a chance to inject some dynamic scoring into their backcourt.
Traore’s quickness and playmaking potential make him, in my eyes, the better option. He offers a different kind of upside, more athleticism and scoring instinct, that Brooklyn badly needs. His rawness is a risk, sure, but the potential reward feels worth it.
So while the No. 8 pick may leave fans wondering, the Nets’ second selection at No. 19 might just be the smarter long-term move. This is not a flashy, headline-grabbing choice, but sometimes the quiet picks are the ones that matter most. Brooklyn’s backcourt situation is far from solved, but Traore gives them a genuine reason to hope. Let's hope for the sake of Brooklyn fans that this under-the-radar move could quietly turn into Brooklyn’s best play.