The NBA may be signaling a stricter approach toward tanking, but that shouldn’t prevent the Nets from positioning themselves as favorably as possible in what is expected to be a strong draft lottery, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes.
Lewis argues that Brooklyn remains more talent-deficient than several of the other teams competing for lottery positioning, making a high draft pick essential to speeding up the franchise’s rebuilding timeline.
Entering play after the All-Star break, the Nets sit just one game away from the No. 2 lottery spot, meaning limiting wins down the stretch could be critical to improving their draft odds.
In reviewing the team’s performance before the break, Lewis notes that much of Brooklyn’s rookie class is still largely unproven.
Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf remain developmental projects with plenty left to show, while lottery pick Egor Demin has emerged as a steady contributor, setting an NBA rookie record with 34 consecutive games featuring at least one made three-pointer.
Meanwhile, Nolan Traore has begun to show encouraging progress, averaging 13.1 points and 5.6 assists since Jan. 23 while shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from three-point range, establishing himself as a more reliable offensive option.
Nets Notes: Tanking, Rookies, Marks, Schedule https://t.co/YiBxgPPZen pic.twitter.com/S9mgwcSpQG
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) February 18, 2026
