Jordi Fernandez reveals development plan for first-round rookie trio

Player development is at its peak Brooklyn Nets‘ list of priorities this season. Still, most of the NBA’s record five first-round rookie picks saw little action early this season. That will change.

The Nets dealt Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf to their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, on Wednesday. With Long Island opening the season on Friday, Jordy Fernandez talked about Brooklyn’s development plan and revealed that the new trio will play in G League games.

“We need our young guys to keep looking, to keep working like they’re doing right now,” Fernandez said Wednesday after the Nets’ win over the Pacers. “These three guys played at the end of the game (against Minnesota) … And now they have a chance to have real practices and real games. If we get a full season with them, between playing in Long Island and the NBA, (playing) 60-plus games is a win. We believe they can compete at this (NBA) level. It’s just a process.”

Fernandez was the head coach of the G League affiliate Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2016. He has repeatedly spoken about the importance of cooperation between Brooklyn and Long Island. The G League will be an essential tool for a Nets team that has a loaded rotation and five starters.

Brooklyn has had success developing players on Long Island. Nick Claxton and Day’Ron Sharp spent extended stints in the G League before emerging as impactful pieces of the rotation. Meanwhile, Noah Clowney showed promise after playing on Long Island for most of his rookie campaign.

A trio of Nets rookies assigned to the G League as the Long Island Nets open season

Long Island could be especially useful for Traore. The 19th pick looked physically overwhelmed and struggled with game pace during his short NBA minutes. A stint in the AG League would give him time to work on his body and get reps at the mid-level of competition.

meanwhile, Saraf started the team’s first five games before Fernandez pulled him from rotation. Israeli point guard showed flashes of advantage creation but 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. He will likely share the point guard with Traore on Long Island, but should rejoin Brooklyn’s rotation as the season progresses.

Wolff injured his ankle during a shootout on the opening day of the season in Brooklyn and recently returned. He made his NBA debut in Monday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, playing three minutes. The former Michigan star is Brooklyn’s oldest rookie at 21 and may be the most NBA-ready.

Wolff showed off his versatile skill set last season while playing extended stretches as a 6-foot-11 guard. The big man averaged 17.3 points, 12.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from three. He impressed during a pair of preseason games against the Phoenix Suns, averaging 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and 3-of-3 from three in 13.0 minutes per game.

However, the Nets have a loaded frontcourt rotation with Nick Claxton, Dei’Ron Sharp, Noah Clowney and Michael Porter Jr. It is unclear whether Wolff will play primarily power forward or center in the NBA. The Nets had a similar question after drafting Clowney in 2023 and used the G League to determine where he fits best.

Traore, Saraf and Wolff should be in action Friday when Long Island opens the season against the Capital City Go-Go’s at the Nassau Coliseum. Meanwhile, Egor Demin will be available for Brooklyn against the Detroit Pistons, while fellow rookie Drake Powell likely sprained his ankle.