New-look Nets rotation prediction ahead of regular season opener

The The Brooklyn Nets boast a revamped roster entering the second year of reconstruction. After an NBA-record five first-round picks in June’s draft and four offseason trades, several players will be fighting for minutes.

With that, we predict what second-year head coach Jordi Fernandes’ rotation will look like at the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

Projecting the Nets’ rotation to begin the 2025-26 campaign

PG: Demin/Ben Saraf/Ben Swall

The Nets are making a concerted effort to finish higher in the draft lottery table than last year. Such urgency in pouring is illustrated by an inexperienced ball-handling rotation. Egor Demin, the team’s first lottery pick since 2010, is slated to open the season as Brooklyn’s starting quarterback. The No. 8 pick missed most of training camp with a torn plantar fascia. However, he was impressive in his NBA debut during Friday’s preseason finale, posting 14 points, five rebounds and an assist in 19 minutes.

Ben Saraf has outplayed Nolan Traore this pre-season and is the favorite to fill the role of Brooklyn’s backup point guard. The Israeli floor general played 22 minutes on Friday, compared to six for Traore, who will likely spend time in the G League early in the season. Even so, expect all three of the Nets’ rookie players to see NBA minutes throughout the year.

SG: Cam Thomas/Tyreese Martin/Drake Powell

Cam Thomas opens the year as the Nets’ leading offensive option Michael Porter Jr. While the 24-year-old’s failed offseason contract negotiations could lead to a midseason trade, he remains Brooklyn’s starting point guard for now. The rotation spot behind Thomas is the team’s main question mark entering the season.

Tyrese Martin was on a non-guaranteed contract but earned a roster spot after a strong performance in training camp. Further, Martin appears to have a rotation role to open the year. The former second-round pick spent most of the preseason with Brooklyn’s second unit. Meanwhile, Powell is among several rookies expected to play in the G League early this season before being called up.

SF: Terrance Mann/Ziaire Williams/Jalen Wilson

Terrence Mann is slated to start as the Nets’ oldest player. Meanwhile, Ziaire Williams has been among Brooklyn’s most impactful players this preseason after signing a two-year, $12 million deal. The 24-year-old averaged 17.5 points on 13-of-22 shooting from the field (59.1 percent) and 8-of-14 from three (57.1 percent) in the team’s final two preseason games. He is locked in place in another Brooklyn unit.

Meanwhile, Wilson beat out Darrick Whitehead and Kobe Bufkin for the final spot on Brooklyn’s roster. The 24-year-old appeared in 79 games with 22 starts last season, averaging 9.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 40/34/82 shooting. However, he is unlikely to have a rotation role early this season, with several veterans ahead of him at the forward positions.

PF: Michael Porter Jr./Noah Clowney/Haywood Highsmith

Porter Jr. has a strong case to be Brooklyn’s most important offensive player besides Thomas. The 27-year-old will offer a security blanket for rookie point guards as an elite spacer and big-bodied target on cuts to the rim. After battling numerous back injuries early in his career, Porter Jr. has been an iron man the past two seasons, missing just six regular season games.

Clowney is entering a pivotal third season and will serve as the Nets’ backup power forward. The 21-year-old showed promise as a goalscorer early last season before suffering three sprained ankles. He will need to develop as a ball-handler, interior shooter and defender to secure a spot in Brooklyn’s long-term plans.

Highsmith suffered a setback during his rehabilitation after off-season meniscus surgery and will be sidelined for at least two months. Given Brooklyn’s decision to keep him over Whitehead and Bufkin, he should see minutes at one of the power forward positions upon his return. The 27-year-old has a $5.6 million expiring contract and, if healthy, could have value for a suitor at the trade deadline.

C: Nic Clacton/Dai’Ron Sharpe/Danny Wolff

Claxton enters the season as Brooklyn’s starting center and longest tenured player. However, the 26-year-old could be a trade candidate as the year progresses. Dai’Ron Sharpe is set to increase his workload after signing a two-year, $12 million extension this summer. Sharpe posted a +13.3 net rating last season. That was the third most among all big men to play over 700 minutes, behind only Nikola Jokic and Ivica Zubac, according to CleaningTheGlass.

Wolff spent time at forward and center during training camp. With Claxton, Sharpe, Porter Jr. and Clowney ahead of him in the frontcourt rotation, he is expected to spend time on Long Island early this season. However, Fernandez said the 21-year-old will get an opportunity in the NBA at some point. The Nets will use Wolff’s G League minutes to evaluate what position best suits him moving forward, as they did with Clowney during his rookie campaign.