3 Nets bold predictions for the 2025-26 NBA season

The Brooklyn Nets don’t enter the 2025-26 NBA season with playoff expectations. After reclaiming their 2025 and 2026 first-round picks and embarking on a rebuild, the team is mired in yet another campaign. However, with an NBA record five first-round rookie picks and several veteran acquisitions entering the mix, numerous questions surround the rebuilding team.

The Nets open their regular season on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets. With that said, here are three bold predictions for Brooklyn’s 2025-26 campaign.

The Nets are ranked third in the NBA standings

If the Nets’ selection of five rookies wasn’t a clear enough signal that they’re rolling, Joe Tsai almost confirmed it during a recent podcast appearance.

“Well, I would have to say that we’re in a rebuilding year,” Tsai said on the All-In podcast. “We spent all our (2025) picks — we had five picks in the draft last summer … We have one pick in 2026 and we’re hoping to get a good pick. So you can predict what kind of strategy we’re going to use for this season. But we have a very young team.”

It should come as no surprise that the Nets are motivated to finish higher in the draft than last season. General manager Sean Marks dealt four first-round picks to the Houston Rockets during the 2024 offseason to reacquire Brooklyn’s 2025 and 2026 first-rounders. One of those four picks was a 2025 first-rounder from the Phoenix Suns, who the Nets finished just two spots ahead of in June’s draft.

With Brooklyn owing Houston an unprotected 2027 first-round pick swap, this year’s draft could represent its last chance to land a top-three pick for the foreseeable future. Many draft analysts view the 2026 class, which features prospects like Darrin Peterson, AJ Dibansta and Cam Boozer, more favorably than the highly touted 2025 class.

The Nets have taken steps to provide a more efficient tank this year. After Dennis Schroeder fueled a surprising 9-10 start last season, Brooklyn begins 2025-26 with an all-rookie lineup. The team’s lack of experienced possession should hinder the attack from day one. Further, the Nets will likely trade call-ups for their veterans before the deadline as they try to open up minutes for their rookies.

My last prediction leads me to the next one. With the Nets aiming to increase their lottery chances and find time for rookies, several veterans will be involved in trade rumors. Cam Thomas and Nic Clacton are among those who could be on the move.

After not agreeing to a contract extension and accepting his qualifying offer, The days of Thomas nets may be numbered. The 24-year-old was reportedly looking for a deal approaching $30 million per year. Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s best offer was a two-year, $30 million contract with a team option in the second year.

Restricted free agents who accept their qualifying offer almost always leave the following offseason. Spencer Hawes (2012) is the only player to re-sign a long-term contract with his team after playing a full season on KO. If Thomas isn’t part of Brooklyn’s long-term plans, the team will have little incentive to feature him throughout the year.

A mid-season trade makes sense for both sides. Removing Thomas’ shot creation would help Brooklyn’s offense while opening up opportunities for its rookies to handle the ball. The Nets would have to work with Thomas’ representatives to find a deal, as he has a no-trade clause after signing his KO.

Meanwhile, Clacton probably has the most trade value of the Brooklyn veteran. The Nets’ longest-tenured player will be 27 this season and has a declining contract that will pay him 11 percent of his salary cap in the final year. With Dai’Ron Sharpe on the rise and rookie Danny Wolf entering the mix, trading Claxton to a center-needy team could give Brooklyn an edge while also helping its draft and development goals.

Yegor Demin makes the All-Rookie team

Brooklyn’s decision to select Egor Demin with its first lottery pick in 15 years was widely maligned. Criticism of the pick centered around Demin’s limitations as a three-point shooter and creator himself last season at BIU. However, those within the Nets organization were adamant that the Russian general would be a high-level NBA scorer on the floor.

Demin supported that assessment so far, shooting 43.5 percent with 7.7 3-pointers per game in Summer League. He shot 2 of 3 from distance in his NBA debut Friday in Toronto. Further, the 19-year-old looked comfortable starting the offense while being chased by Scotty Barnes and other Raptors defensemen. He was also impressive defensively, using his 6-foot-10 wingspan to force several turnovers and miss shots.

FC Egor Demin pic.twitter.com/bKvz0ekk62

— NBA Draft Dude 🤙 (@CoreiTulaba) October 18, 2025

Yegor Demin did very well last night, but I really liked what he showed defensively.

Here he digs down on the roller to reverse. Then he rotates as the short man and drives 7-foot Jakob Poltl in B2B misses at the rim.

That 6’9″ frame and 6’10” wingspan will make an impact. pic.twitter.com/v6F2pRkLnV

— Eric Slater (@erikslater_) October 18, 2025

Demin still has a long way to go as a ball-handler if he is to reach his potential. He will need to add strength and tighten the crank to get downhill and let his elite game shine. However, he will not be short of opportunities to console himself on the ball this season.

If the 8th pick can shoot respectably, play adequate defense and create for his teammates in a role that is used often, he will have a case for a spot on one of the starting teams.