Lucas Kaplan

Writer at NetsDaily

Writer at Swish Theory

Writing @NetsDaily @SwishTheory previously @SIS_Hoops

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Articles

The Brooklyn Nets have left us with more questions than answers

2 days ago | netsdaily.com | Lucas Kaplan

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images The Brooklyn Nets had an unbelievable first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. It was an unbelievable, official start to the rebuild that was announced one year ago with the Mikal Bridges and Houston Rockets trades but had to wait to truly commence until Wednesday night. Yes, unbelievable. Both while it was happening and now, the morning after.
With #27 pick, Brooklyn Nets select Danny Wolf, Michigan center

2 days ago | netsdaily.com | Lucas Kaplan

The Brooklyn Nets selected Danny Wolf, a legitimate point center from Michigan and before that Yale with their last first round pick, the 27th. Wolf, at 21 the oldest of the five firsts, averaged 13.2 points on 50/37/39 to go along with 9.2 and 3.6 assists (but 3.2 turnovers) at Michigan, making All-Big 10 second team.
With #26 pick, Brooklyn Nets select Ben Saraf, 6’6” Israeli point guard

2 days ago | netsdaily.com | Lucas Kaplan

Photo by Jan-Philipp Strobel/picture alliance via Getty Images After taking a Russian then a French point guard, the Nets completed an international trifecta by adding an Israeli point who plays in Germany, Ben Saraf. Saraf, a 6’6” point, is in fact still playing in the German League playoffs for Ratiopharm Ulm. He follows Egor Demin, a 6’9” point guard from Russia who played for BYU at No. 8 and Nolan Traore, a 6’4” point guard from France who played for St. Quentin in France.
With #22 pick Brooklyn Nets select Drake Powell, 6’6’ wing from North Carolina

2 days ago | netsdaily.com | Lucas Kaplan

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images The Brooklyn Nets aren’t done yet. After taking Egor Demin at #8 and another European guard, Nolan Traoré, at #19, their third pick of the night is one-and-done UNC guard Drake Powell at #22. It was another case of the Nets taking a swing on a player mocked later. In its last mock draft, ESPN had Powell at No. 32, 10 spots later than he was selected. Powell is a 6’6” wing who has a reputation as a 3-and-D prospect with defense his more advanced skill.
With #19 pick, Brooklyn Nets select Nolan Traore, French point guard

2 days ago | netsdaily.com | Lucas Kaplan

Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images The Brooklyn Nets have added to their 2025 NBA Draft haul by taking 6’4” French point guard, Nolan Traore of Saint-Quentin of the French League. Traore is the second international point guard taken by the Brooklyn Nets in the Draft following their surprising No. 8 pick, Russian Egor Demin. He is seen as one of the best passers and the fastest point guard in the 2025 Draft class.
With #8 pick, the Brooklyn Nets select Egor Demin, BYU

2 days ago | netsdaily.com | Lucas Kaplan

Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images The next era of Brooklyn Nets basketball has a face. With the #8 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Nets selected Egor Demin, a 6’9” freshman out of Brigham Young University. The pick was a surprise with among others Khaman Maluach, Noah Essengue and Collin Murry-Boyles on the board. Michael Scotto was first with the news. Born in Moscow, he played for Real Madrid before joining BYU.
RUMOR ROUND-UP II: Prospects talk possibilities and how they liked Brooklyn Nets

3 days ago | netsdaily.com | Lucas Kaplan

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images If you’re craving one last whiff of the rumor mill before the NBA Draft commences on Wednesday night, don’t expect the players to provide it. Two dozen potential draftees were given invitations to the green room for the draft, but on Tuesday afternoon, they all gathered at the Lotte New York Palace to field questions from a ton of reporters, content creators, and other types of microphone-holders. It’s an odd event.
The New York Liberty have hit a rough patch. How do they get out of it?

4 days ago | netsdaily.com | Lucas Kaplan

Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images What’s a season without a little adversity? The New York Liberty would prefer not to know, but over the last ten days, they’ve lost Jonquel Jones to a four-to-six-week ankle injury, Leonie Fiebich to EuroBasket, and three of four games. Perhaps I jinxed them. Still, provided Jones can make a full recovery by August, their championship aspirations remain unchanged.
Should the Brooklyn Nets listen to the noise and take Egor Demin on NBA Draft night?

1 week ago | netsdaily.com | Lucas Kaplan

Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images Ace Bailey is not the only name being thrown around the Brooklyn Nets as the 2025 NBA Draft approaches. Enter: Egor Demin (pronounced YAY-gor Deh-meen).
New York Liberty lose Jonquel Jones to injury, battle to Phoenix Mercury, 89-81

1 week ago | netsdaily.com | Lucas Kaplan

Photo by Pamela Smith/Getty Images For just a bit, the New York Liberty imagined away the bigger issue at hand. The worst part of a muddy first half in which the home team turned it over 14 times, going down by just a possession to the Phoenix Mercury, who couldn’t hit an open jumper, had nothing to do with the quality of basketball. Jonquel Jones, a week removed from a right ankle sprain, went down in audible pain after a drive to the rim, this time grabbing her knee...