The Brooklyn Nets had an interesting offseason as they selected a league-record five players in the 2025 NBA Draft, all in the first round, as the team continues its rebuild. Brooklyn has been looking for its next franchise player so that the organization can get back to the playoffs as soon as possible, but should they have went in a different direction with their eighth overall pick?
“Positions matter little to the rebuilding Nets, though, who take the best rookie available. Queen ranks seventh among his classmates in scoring (12.3 points), third in rebounding (6.1) and second in assists (3.6),” Greg Swartz wrote for Bleacher Report recently while discussing center Derik Queen.
As of this writing, Queen, who was ultimately taken with the 13th overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans via trade, is averaging 12.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, but Swartz argues that the Nets should have taken Queen instead of guard Egor Demin.
“He’s a terrific passer who will fire some no-look behind-the-back passes or lobs that make you sit up in your seat. One of the most unique young big men in the NBA, he is worthy of a rise up the board in our re-draft,” Swartz continued. Demin is averaging 8.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 38.8% from the field and 35.3% from three-point land.
While it’s too early to determine whether the Nets made the wrong pick by choosing Demin over Queen, there’s no doubt that both players are talented in their own ways. Demin has had his growing pains this season as his efficiency numbers are low compared to the league average, but he has also had moments where he shows his elite ability as a passer and a shooter.
Queen has also shown his penchant for being an offensive force at the center spot as he is one of just three centers to notch a triple-double this season, with the others being Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton and Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic. In the end, whether the Nets took the wrong player won’t be determined at least for the next few years, but this was an interesting circumstance to contemplate nonetheless.