Make New York Post a Preferred Source The Post’s Brian Lewis breaks down the Nets roster ahead of training camp:
Player, age, position, height, weight
After the Nets traded a second-round pick in 2018, it got moved in three different deals before coming back to Brooklyn in the form of this sweet-shooting forward from UCLA. The two-way’s defense has to prove up to NBA levels.
The No. 6 pick from Louisville is the Nets’ highest since 2010 and foundation of their rebuild. Rookie point guards have growing pains, and Brown must bulk up and cut turnovers, but he will get every chance to play right out of the gate.
After starting 60 games last season, he likely will come off the bench. But entering his fourth season — despite being younger than Danny Wolf — Clowney has to show growth, particularly as a shooter, rim protector and rebounder.
Spent last season with Miami’s G-League squad after going undrafted as a rookie. The Nets saw his aggressiveness, 7-foot-7 wingspan and motor, and brought him to Summer League. Another likely Long Island Net after camp.
After doubts about his shooting, Dëmin showed a 3-point shot as a rookie. Now the young Russian has bulked up and must build on the improved downhill game he flashed in Summer League. If that’s real, he’s a legitimate building block.
Brooklyn has desperately lacked point-of-attack defense. That’s why they signed Ellis, who played in Sacramento while coach Jordi Fernandez was the lead assistant and can provide valuable 3-and-D minutes off the bench.
Went undrafted after being a backup up Illinois’ Final Four team last season. Signed to an Exhibit 10, went to Summer League with Brooklyn and could end up with G-League Long Island after training camp.
Taken with the first-round pick that came attached to salary-dumped Julius Randle. Jefferson was a versatile do-it-all forward at Iowa State, but comes into a crowded backup forward group that includes Noah Clowney, Danny Wolf and Josh Minott.
Got brought up last season and averaged 8.2 points on pure athleticism and hustle despite being undersized. The Nets used Johnson at center in Summer League despite the presence of Danny Wolf, and he showed enough to earn a two-way.
In an odd spot as a heady (and pricey) veteran stuck on a young team nowhere near ready to compete and determined to develop their youngsters. Does Mann steal late game minutes in nailbiters, or get moved to a contender?
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An analytics darling, Minott has the potential to be a legitimate 3-and-D threat. Injuries, Boston’s wing depth and finally Brooklyn’s tanking efforts have conspired to limit his minutes. Now he finally will get his chance, and has to take it.
Injuries curtailed Nelson’s last season and kept him out of Summer League altogether, both Sacramento and Las Vegas. But he got a two-way deal, and another shot at the third-strong job.
Coming off a career season, Porter can build on that with more talent around him like Brown and Randle. The forward is set to make $40.8 million and be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Will he get extended, traded, or both?
A plus athlete and gifted defender. But Powell is raw offensively and looked horrible shooting the ball over the summer. Can he hone his jumper and get his athleticism to translate to production?
Brookyn’s only All-Star, Randle has averaged 21.7 points and 8.9 rebounds over the past eight years. He’s a floor-raiser who will help, but for how long? At 31 and able to opt out next summer, he hardly fits the Nets’ timeline.
Another 2025 first-round guard, Saraf has a solid frame, physicality and nose for getting downhill. But the young Israeli shot just 21.1 percent from 3-point range as a rookie, a figure that needs to improve.
After years of backing up Nic Claxton, Sharpe finally gets his chance as the starter center. A great rebounder per 100 possessions, he has never averaged more than 18.7 minutes. Can his production handle scaled up playing time?
The young Frenchman is quick and gets to the rim, but of every player who attempted at least 100 layups, his 44.4 percent was dead last. Will the former first-rounder’s added muscle help him finish?
With Claxton gone and Sharpe the starter, Wagner signed in free agency as Brooklyn’s only other proven center. He’s going to play — a lot — but can the floor spacing he provides compensate for a lack of rim protection?
Despite the size, Wolf is far more of a jumbo wing than a backup center. He can dribble and pass, but with his ground-bound game, the 22-year-old is going to have to work on improving his finishing or jumper. It’s a recurring theme.
