The Nets announced Monday that rookies Drake Powell and Ben Saraf have been assigned to the team’s G League affiliate, and the timing of their latest stint in Long Island couldn’t be better.
Brooklyn defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 119–101 on Saturday at Barclays Center, securing its third win in four games on a night when Powell and Saraf logged 21 and 20 minutes, respectively. And after failing to qualify for the knockout rounds of the NBA Cup, the Nets won’t return to action until Friday, when they visit the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.
The Nets will practice three times before then, capped by a final tune-up Thursday before flying to Dallas. Meanwhile, Long Island has games against the College Park Skyhawks and Westchester Knicks on Tuesday and Wednesday, giving the rookies a chance to log valuable reps in the G League before potentially rejoining the big club for Friday’s matchup in Dallas.
Powell and Saraf have experienced very different rookie seasons. Powell dealt with minor injuries early on and didn’t solidify his role in the rotation until Nov. 7. Saraf, meanwhile, opened the year as the team’s starting point guard for the first five games before falling out of the rotation entirely and spending an extended stretch in the G League to recalibrate.
Through his first 16 appearances, Powell has averaged 6.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists, while Saraf has averaged 5.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in his first 12. Powell ranks ninth on the team in total steals with 13, and Saraf sits eighth in total assists with 34, steady contributions for two late-first-round rookies thrust into meaningful minutes on a rebuilding team.
While Powell was assigned and recalled twice during Long Island’s training camp in October, Tuesday would mark his first actual G League game if he plays. Saraf, meanwhile, has appeared in four games for Long Island this season, averaging 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists while showing the pace, downhill playmaking and confidence head coach Jordi Fernández has been pushing him to rediscover.
For the Nets, this window is perfectly positioned. Brooklyn is coming off its most encouraging week of the season — one featuring improved offense, sharper defense and a dominant outing from Michael Porter Jr. — but the rotation remains in flux. With three off days before the Dallas trip, meaningful in-game development time is hard to come by at the NBA level. Long Island provides exactly that.
The G League also offers something else: freedom. Powell and Saraf will have room to stretch their games, make mistakes and take on larger offensive roles without risking Brooklyn’s recent momentum. For Powell, it’s a chance to sharpen his shooting and ballhandling while continuing to build defensive consistency. For Saraf, it’s an opportunity to fortify his decision-making, especially after Fernández’s recent push for him to improve his assist-to-turnover ratio and stay aggressive without forcing plays.
Both rookies have earned Brooklyn’s confidence. Now they get a brief, well-timed runway to add more layers to their games. If all goes well, Powell and Saraf will arrive in Dallas sharper, more confident and better prepared to help a Nets team that suddenly looks far more competitive than it did a month ago.