The Brooklyn Nets exceeded expectations this season, finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 26-56 record, despite many forecasts placing them near the bottom of the league.
First-year coach Jordi Fernández instilled early-season grit, making the Nets a scrappy upset threat before a midseason trade of key veterans signaled a full embrace of tanking.
However, that early success likely hurt their chances of landing a franchise-changing prospect to accelerate the rebuild.
With a young core led by offensive-minded shooting guard Cam Thomas, the star-needy Nets may need to get creative to build a competitive future.
Desperate for talent upgrades—especially at point guard—the Nets have been linked to several high-upside guard prospects ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Among them is a player dubbed the “hottest name in pre-draft circles,” whom Sports Illustrated’s Matt Brandon predicts the Nets will take a gamble on with the No. 8 pick.
Why Egor Demin Is Emerging as the Nets’ Top Projected Pick at No. 8
In his latest mock draft, Brandon tabbed 6-foot-9 BYU freshman guard Egor Demin as Brooklyn’s likely target at No. 8. Arguably the draft’s top passer, Demin has intrigued front offices with his size and playmaking despite questions surrounding the rest of his offensive game.
Per ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, Demin “has been one of the biggest risers during the pre-draft process.” The 19-year-old prospect is also reportedly “drawing interest from several teams in the lottery, including the Brooklyn Nets.”
Brandon is seemingly buying Siegel’s report, as he vaulted Demin up to No. 8, noting that the Nets’ reported interest in him likely holds credibility.
“Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire — and all signs point to the Brooklyn Nets being seriously intrigued by BYU’s Egor Demin,” Brandon wrote. “The 6’9” guard has become the hottest name in pre-draft circles, skyrocketing from a fringe first-rounder in earlier mocks to a legitimate top-10 talent.”
The analyst continued to outline how Demin’s large frame and dynamic play style could complement Thomas’ score-first approach in the Nets’ backcourt.
“Brooklyn desperately needs backcourt reinforcements to pair with Cam Thomas, and Demin checks every box,” Brandon wrote. “He’s got the size, versatility and instincts to grow into a dynamic two-way guard, with flashes of playmaking and scoring ability that suggest a high ceiling down the line. For a rebuilding Nets team, taking a swing on Demin’s upside could be a home run.”
Despite Demin rising up draft boards, many experts still have concerns about his limited shot creation and outside shooting. He shot just 27.3% from 3-point range on 4.7 attempts a night and had difficulty generating looks inside.
Even so, teams are reportedly optimistic about Demin’s jumper coming around, which could lead to him being a draft-night steal.
Across 33 outings at BYU, Demin averaged 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 3-pointers per game, shooting 41.2%.
At 6’9″, Egor Demin displays high-level talent and a feel for the game that are difficult to come by at 18 years old. He picks apart pick-and-roll defenses with outstanding court vision and creativity, playing some of his best basketball in the NCAA Tournament. https://t.co/xarBVoRTR8 pic.twitter.com/Zcm6ka9c0N
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 8, 2025
Demin’s NBA Comparisons and Fit With Nets
One of the most popular NBA comparisons for Demin is Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey. At 6-foot-8, Giddey entered the league as a playmaking-focused prospect with similar offensive concerns when the Oklahoma City Thunder drafted him sixth overall in 2021.
If Demin follows a similar path, he could become Brooklyn’s point guard of the future, potentially supplanting veteran D’Angelo Russell on the depth chart. His court vision would also provide an immediate boost to Cam Thomas and other core Nets players like forward Cameron Johnson and center Nic Claxton.
In PFSN’s latest mock draft, however, Brandon Austin has Demin falling to No. 15 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, with the Nets instead selecting the standout freshman from Duke — Kon Knueppel.
