Brooklyn sends 3 of 5 1st round rookies to G League ahead of tip-off

The The Brooklyn Nets are the first team in NBA history five rookie picks in the first round. Still, the team’s draft picks rarely saw the floor during a listless 0-7 start. Nets fans will soon be able to see most of their rookies play together, but it’s unlikely to be in Brooklyn.

The Nets assigned Ben Saraf, Nolan Traore and Danny Wolf to their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, on Tuesday. All three have been ruled out for Wednesday’s road game with the Indiana Pacers. The move comes in front Season opener on Long Island on Friday at the Nassau Coliseum.

Jordy Fernandez, who was the head coach of the G League’s Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2016, recently spoke about the importance of the collaboration between Brooklyn and Long Island.

“It’s huge, because we’re not different teams, we’re the same team and we’re the same club,” Fernandez said. “All the coaches are coaches of the same club. We had great communication; we have a system… It’s more important for the players to see what their path is to get better. Obviously the work you put in every day is important, but there’s nothing more important than playing the right minutes. And the right minutes are in the NBA, the right minutes are very important on Long Island, they’re very important.

“I was in the G League as a head coach. All but one of our players (Michael Porter Jr.) played in the G League. Most of our coaches were there. So that’s something we embrace and believe in. That’s how we’re going to do it.”

Egor Demin — Brooklyn’s first lottery pick in 15 years — is the Nets’ only rookie with a solid rotation early this season.

The Nets are sending a trio of rookies to the G League ahead of the tip-off tournament

meanwhile, Saraf started the team’s first five games before Fernandez pulled him out of the rotation in favor of journeyman Tyrese Martin. Israel’s floor general struggled to score against NBA competition, averaging 3.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists on 22/17/67 shots in 18.2 minutes per game.

Traore looked the least NBA-ready of Brooklyn’s three ball-handling starters during his limited opportunities. Doc Drake Powell made a promisehe could not stay on the floor due to a couple of ankle injuries. The No. 22 pick re-injured his ankle during his first game on Sunday and is likely to miss an extended period.

Wolff also suffered an ankle injury on the season opener in Brooklyn. However, the former Michigan star was available to make his NBA debut during Monday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Michael Porter Jr. out for personal reasons, Wolff had a case to join Brooklyn’s rotation, but Fernandez didn’t insert the rookie, playing him just three minutes in the bullpen.

With Brooklyn fielding a veteran-heavy rotation, Saraf, Traore and Wolff will likely see extended G League minutes in the coming weeks. The Nets have had success developing draft picks through Long Island under general manager Sean Marks. Nick Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe spent extended stints in the G League before becoming permanent members of Brooklyn’s rotation.