This season, the Nets have seen good and bad flashes from their rookies. With five first-rounders, the Nets didn’t trade a single pick. With the All-Star break beginning, it’s time to review the rookie’s performance.

The grading criteria will be based on 5 categories.

• Offensive Impact
• Defensive Impact
• Basketball IQ & Feel
• Role Execution & Consistency
• Long-Term Ceiling / Development Trajectory

Egor Dёmin: A-

On the offensive side, Dёmin has been phenomenal. His three-point shot is consistent, and he has displayed a high basketball IQ. His size is a large factor in his ability to get his shot off over a tough defender. On top of that, Egor’s confidence is above average for a rookie. This was really shown in a game on January 7 versus the Magic, when he made 5 threes in the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter and overtime. Most rookies do not do this. Although his size will help him develop faster, usually rookies’ defense takes a long time to fully develop. Egor is finding his role fast coming out of college, and shooting was a concern for him. In one offseason, Egor became one of the best shooters in the draft, even setting records this year. There is no doubt that he can fix his grey areas this offseason and maybe make a second-season jump. It is safe to say that Dёmin is developing fast, and fans should be excited to see what’s coming.

Nolan Traoré: B

Traoré started off the season slowly. He bounced in and out of the G-League and couldn’t find his role on the floor. Despite that, he has turned it around. Up until January 31st, Traoré was averaging 7 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists per game, along with shooting 35% from the field. The second February hit, he turned it around. In February, he averaged 12 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal. He also shot 43% from the field, a huge jump in just 1 month. His offensive game is still improving, but the main attribute he has shown is his passing ability. Traoré is calm with the ball in his hands and has proven that he can be a true facilitator in the future. On the defensive end, he uses his quick hands to get steals and push the ball to get easy fast break opportunities. In my opinion, Traoré would best fit as a pass-first point guard on a contending team. If the Nets can land a scoring big man in this upcoming draft, he would fit perfectly with Traoré. On the downside, he has only started playing well recently, and turnovers are becoming an issue, but this happens to most rookies.

Drake Powell: C+

Drake Powell got Nets fans excited in the beginning of the season because of his energy and athleticism. Since then, he has not continued to show that and looks uncomfortable on the floor. Drake’s size and athleticism help him score near the basket and run in transition, but his shooting is not consistent. He has trouble creating his own shot and sometimes relies too much on others to get him the ball. On defense, Powell tries hard and can block shots or make it hard for opponents to score, but he sometimes gets out of position or makes mistakes. His understanding of the game is still developing, and he hasn’t found his role on the team yet. His basketball IQ is improving, and he shows flashes of star potential. There are three simple possibilities for Powell’s future. He will either become a constant two-way player that will be out of the league within the next 5 years, an elite role player on a contending team, or an All-Star-level player next to a superstar. The reason I don’t think he will end up being a superstar or the best player on his team is that he is not that type of player. The main issue is that he can’t shoot the three-ball. To be a superstar in today’s NBA, you need to be able to shoot the three-pointer efficiently. This is why I expect him to end up as one of the first two. You never know, though. Alex Caruso was a very similar player to Drake Powell. They are both 6’5 and elite on defense. Caruso shot 30% from three in his rookie year. The next year, he brought it up to 48%. Powell’s future is destined to be a 3-and-D piece on a contender; it just depends on his shot.

Ben Saraf: D

Ben Saraf was an interesting pick for the Nets, not because of anything to do with him as a player, but more because he is just like Egor Dёmin, who they had drafted just 18 picks before. Similar to the fans’ reaction, it’s safe to say his rookie year has been interesting. Saraf actually started on opening night against the Hornets. He scored 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in 20 minutes on the floor, a solid rookie debut. Since then, it’s been downhill. Saraf has played only 28 games since then and has spent most of his time in the G League. In the time he has played, Saraf appears to be a decent facilitator with an inefficient offensive game. Rookies usually don’t shoot perfectly, but 35% from the field is unacceptable. He also shoots 28% from three, which is very low, even for a rookie. I really don’t see Ben Saraf improving enough to stay in the league for a while. I can see him going back to Israel to play overseas, but his game just doesn’t translate to the NBA.

Danny Wolf: B+

Danny Wolf is a very unique player. Coming out of Michigan, he was one of the most loved players in the draft. His combination of size, passing, and rebounding was unlike any player in the class. Danny’s play style resembles a young Nikola Jokić. This season, he has proved that he has superstar potential. He has also proved that he could very well be out of the league in 2 years. Wolf is a risky player; it’s hard to predict how his career will end up. At times, he shows incredible vision and the ability to make difficult passes that most big men cannot make. His rebounding and feel for the game also stand out, which is why many people believe he could develop into a special player. However, his inconsistency and overall development will determine whether he can reach that level. With an All-NBA ceiling and a G-League floor, Danny Wolf will have an interesting NBA career, and I’m excited to see how much he can achieve in this league.

Overall, the Nets made some good picks and some shaky ones. Some could blossom into stars, and others may not be what the Nets saw in them. I, for one, am excited to see how far these rookies can take us.