Nets 2025 NBA mock draft after trading for Terance Mann, No. 22 pick
The Nets have been rumored to be one of the teams to be active this offseason in the draft and in free-agency because of how much draft capital and cap space they have compared to the rest of the league. Brooklyn, like they did in the trade with the Hawks and Celtics, have the chance to use their cap space to help other teams shed payroll for the exchange of draft capital.
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With that being said, the Nets still have to make some picks in the upcoming draft as infusing the organization with young talent is still the most important part of this offseason following a 26-56 record during the 2024-25 season. With that being said, here is the mock draft for Brooklyn for all six of their picks:
#8: Noa Essengue, F, Ratiopharm Ulm
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 24: Noa Essengue speaks during a Media Availability session prior to the 2025 NBA Draft at Lotte New York Palace on June 24, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by)
Most mock drafts in the industry have the Nets taking French forward Noa Essengue with the eighth overall pick in the draft and it's easy to see why. Essengue, listed at 6-foot-10 and 198 pounds, appears to be the kind of player that could play at the power forward spot in the NBA from the beginning and look like he belongs because of his physical profile.
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Based on various mock drafts, it seems that Essengue should be available as the eighth overall pick, but according to Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo's latest mock, there is a chance that Texas guard Tre Johnson is available at the pick. Either way, Essengue fits the mold of what Brooklyn is trying to build in terms of fielding long, rangy athletes that can be disruptive on the perimeter while holding the potential for future offensive impact.
#19: Asa Newell, F, Georgia
Feb 5, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs forward Asa Newell (14) controls the ball against the LSU Tigers during the second half at Stegeman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Newell is an interesting prospect given that he proved that he can be an effective player inside the paint thanks to his 6-foot-9, 224-pound frame, but also has shown some flashes of being an inside-out threat as a big. Newell could be one of the players that the Nets try to develop during the rebuild as he represents an archetype of player that would prove to be valuable if he is able to fulfill his potential.
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Newell, as Givony and Woo noted, has a wider draft range than most prospects expected to be taken in the first round as there are some mocks having him going in the late Lottery while others have him being taken near the 20s. Newell has a good chance of making it to 19 and Brooklyn could do worse than taking a player who has displayed the kind of versatility that Newell has during his college career and his predraft workouts.
#22: Nolan Traore, G, Saint-Quentin
[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 14, 2025 Caen, FRANCE; St Quentin point guard Nolan Traore in action during a LNB Pro A Leaders Cup match. Mandatory Credit: Franck Faugere/Presse Sports via Imagn Images
Traore has been rumored to be a target of the Nets for awhile now, especially since Traore has had some good moments during the predraft process of being a guard who can run an offense at a solid level. However, part of what makes Traore attractive to teams is his physical profile as he stands at 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds while displaying the playmaking confidence of a true point guard.
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To be clear, Traore's main flaw is his shooting, which is part of the reason that he went from a locked-in Lottery pick to a guy who will still be taken in the first round, but has some warts on his profile. At the 22nd pick, the Nets can't ask for much more than a guy who has a mostly-positive profile that if the player development can achieve success with him, he could be the point guard of the future that the team has been searching for since Kyrie Irving.
#26: Nique Clifford, G/F, Colorado State
Mar 23, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Colorado State Rams guard Nique Clifford (10) dribbles the ball against Maryland Terrapins guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (0) and forward Julian Reese (10) in the second half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Clifford, 23, is one of the oldest prospects in this draft class, but that doesn't mean that teams won't be interested in him long before the drafts gets to the 26th overall pick. During his time at Colorado State, Clifford showed his ability to play with the ball in his hands, especially when it came to his scoring and playmaking for a Rams without much NBA-level talent on the roster.
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Clifford appears to be the kind of guy that can be inserted into an NBA rotation from the season opener and not look like a deer in headlights given his experience and track record. Brooklyn is still in the early stages of its rebuild so it's hard to say that Clifford doesn't fit the timeline of the team, but if he goes to Brooklyn, he will have some decent runway to show how much he can contribute as an older player.
#27: Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joseph's
Mar 15, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Saint Joseph's Hawks forward Rasheer Fleming (13) shoots the ball over Saint Joseph's Hawks forward Shawn Simmons II (10) in the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Fleming is an interesting prospect to discuss given that his draft stock always seemed to be in the first round, but over the course of the predraft process, he seems to be falling down the board. Fleming ended the college season as one of the forwards who profiles as a wing who can contribute on the offensive end while having the capability and competitiveness to be a solid defender as well.
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Through the predraft process, Fleming showed to have some positive measurements, standing at 6-foot-8 and 232 pounds while having a 7-foot-5 wingspan, that should have only increased his draft stock. However, that could be the kind of slide that the Nets take advantage by taking him late in the first round and seeing what head coach Jordi Fernandez and the player development can do with the 20-year-old Fleming.
#36: Yang Hansen, C, Qingdao (China)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 02: Yang Hansen of Team China handles the ball during the game between the Australia Boomers and China at John Cain Arena on July 02, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by)
While international prospects like Hansen come to the NBA Draft with the expectation that they are going to have to prove that they can hang with NBA competition, he proved just that during the NBA Combine in Chicago. Hansen, standing at 7-foot-1 and 253 pounds, may not be the most effective rim-protector that has seen the NBA hardwood, but he has some promising traits within his game.
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Hansen is effective around the basket, but he also displayed his ability to operate in the post, not just with his footwork to score against his opponent, but also with his vision and long-range shooting ability. Under general manager Sean Marks, Brooklyn has preferred to roster bigs that can move around the floor without much issue so Yang will either have to alter his game or prove that he can contribute as he is.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets 2025 NBA mock draft after trading for Terance Mann, No. 22 pick
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