Nets’ rookie guards learning on the fly as Egor Demin joins the mix

The Nets’ first three preseason games offered a revealing look at their rookie guards, a glimpse into both their promise and their inexperience.

Nolan Traore showed the burst and change of pace that made him one of the most intriguing prospects in his class, pushing the tempo and attacking the paint with confidence.

Ben Saraf brought stability to the pitch, highlighted by an 11-assist performance in his last outing, orchestrating the offense with composure and finding teammates in rhythm.

And Drake Powell, despite joining training camp late, made his mark defensively by forcing turnovers, jumping pass lanes and demonstrating the athleticism and energy that defines his game.

For head coach Jordi Fernández, these flashes are exactly the goal of this stage of the pre-season. He focuses not on wins or losses but on progress, teaching his young guards to play fast, think clearly and develop habits that will shape Brooklyn’s future.

“I feel like we’re ahead of where we were last year, because of the support system that I have, and not just the coaching staff, but the front office, the relationship with ownership,” Fernández said. “And then with that, the players that were here last year. Not a better or worse summer; it was a different summer, but a really good summer. And all those things together make me feel better.”

Overall, Brooklyn’s backcourt development project is off to a promising start. The next step is helping his young guards learn to value possessions and limit mistakes that come with learning the speed and complexity of NBA defenses.

The Nets committed 74 total turnovers in three preseason games, including 34 in their opener against the Phoenix Suns in Macau. Traore, Saraf and Powell accounted for 22.9 percent of those errors, reflecting both their heavy involvement in initiating the offense and the steep learning curve that comes with handling NBA pressure.

“We still have to continue to work on cutters and reads, especially against teams like Phoenix who are so good in pressure, good defensively and very aggressive,” Fernández said. “I thought for us it was the best thing to do, because it’s really difficult to achieve with teams that have high-level defenders. It’s going to be a learning process, you know?… So, I’m happy with what I saw, but we still have a long way to go.”

That’s a high number, but not surprising for a trio still learning to balance rhythm, reads and control. Traore is averaging three turnovers per game so far this preseason, while Saraf has averaged two and Powell one. Fernández views these mistakes as part of the process, the byproduct of growth that comes with learning rhythm, timing and decision-making at the NBA level.

And now the education of Egor Demin can begin. The eighth overall pick in this year’s NBA draft is set to make his Nets debut Friday against the Toronto Raptors.

“We’re going to have to continue to help them, but it’s going to require them to take the next step and the next step, and so on,” Fernández said. “So, you know, I’m very happy so far with what they bring to the group. Very happy to bring, now, Egor into the mix, and they all feel like they have to compete very hard. And most importantly, enjoy their minutes.”

This internal competition between youth, opportunity and patience is exactly what Brooklyn hoped to create by investing in upside this summer. The foundations are still rough, but they are starting to take shape.