Nets’ Drake Powell, Ben Saraf assigned to G League, but Danny Wolf stays in Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Nets are taking advantage of an unusual five-day midseason break to get their rookies extra reps. After failing to advance to the knockout round of the NBA Cup, the Nets won’t return to action until Friday. The team assigned rookies Drake Powell and Ben Saraf to their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, on Monday.

With Long Island playing Tuesday and Wednesday, Powell and Saraf will have a chance to play extended minutes during Brooklyn’s layoff. It would mark Powell’s first appearance with Long Island this season, while the Saraf played in four G League games earlier in the year.

Both players have been regulars in Brooklyn’s rotation over the past few weeks.

Nets rookies Drake Powell, Ben Saraf assigned to G League during extended break

Powell played 21.1 minutes per game over 14 appearances for Brooklyn since returning from a pair of early-season ankle injuries. The 6-foot-5 wing averaged 6.9 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists on .466/.364/.944 shooting during that span.

Meanwhile, Saraf started the Nets’ first five games at point guard before the team sent him to the G League. The rookie appeared in four games with Long Island, averaging 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 4.3 turnovers on .465/.286/.778 shooting.

Saraf has recently returned to Brooklyn’s rotation, playing 21.3 minutes per game over the team’s last five outings. He averaged 8.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.8 turnovers on .429/.300/.857 shooting during that span.

Danny Wolff was not assigned to Long Island along with Powell and Wolff on Monday. The No. 27 pick was the last of five Nets rookies to receive NBA minutes this season. However, the following promising stay in the G Leaguerecently emerged as one of Brooklyn’s most impactful players after cracking the rotation.

Wolff plays 24.2 minutes per night in the Nets’ last five games. During that span, he averaged 12.8 points — third most on the team — 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists on 46.9 percent shooting from the field and 46.2 percent from three.

While Powell, Saraf and Nolan Traore will spend time on Long Island this week, Wolff’s production could keep him in Brooklyn for the rest of the season.