{"id":649475,"date":"2026-03-09T20:02:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/649475\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:02:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:02:27","slug":"how-does-nolan-traores-recent-play-affect-the-nets-draft-the-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/649475\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does Nolan Traore’s Recent Play Affect the Nets’ Draft? \u2013 The Lead"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Brooklyn Nets have won one game since the All-Star Break and are currently the third-worst<\/a> team in the NBA by record at 16-47.<\/p>\n

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Fans have been rooting for losses as the Nets are racing the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Washington Wizards for the highest odds of the number-one overall pick. The end-of-season tank-a-thon is in full swing.<\/p>\n

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Last draft, Sean Marks<\/a> and the Nets took a chance with five first-round picks. The rookies have experienced significant development over the course of the year, largely thanks to head coach Jordi Fernandez.<\/p>\n

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But none of them have been able to transform this program overnight or prove their keep as the centerpiece of the franchise. This year\u2019s class is much deeper with many exciting \u201ccan\u2019t-miss\u201d prospects \u2013 hence the race for a top lottery pick.<\/p>\n

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However, recently, Nolan Traore<\/a> has climbed the rookie rankings after an excellent February, serving as the Nets\u2019 primary ball handler, following a season spent mostly with Long Island in the G-League or coming off the bench.<\/p>\n

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This recent emergence could provide some stability to the roster and provide some clarity on the Nets\u2019 draft direction come June.<\/p>\n

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Because those front-court players have seemingly risen to the top of many boards<\/a>, Marks and Fernandez\u2019s philosophy of drafting the best player available over fit is shifting many fans\u2019 focus away from the guards.
\nTraore Flourished in February
\nNolan Traore started in all 12 of the Nets\u2019 games in February, averaging<\/a> 12.2 points while shooting 43% from the floor \u2013 his best scoring numbers this year, showing an improvement in his confidence and ability to get to the rim.<\/p>\n

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Fernandez has implemented double-screens and made him more comfortable in the pick-and-roll, maximizing Traore\u2019s speed and vision.<\/p>\n

The Nets got 1.68 points per direct on-ball pick set for 19-year-old Nolan Traore last night. That’s the most efficient game a player has had this season, where they received at least 25 on-ball picks pic.twitter.com\/vYRt4utBYr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ALL NBA Podcast (@ALLCITY_NBA) February 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

He has been taking better shots, which has massively improved his scoring production. But Traore is also finding more open shooters while orchestrating the offense. His assist percentage has jumped to 29.3% in February, ranking 15th<\/a> among players who played in 10 or more games.<\/p>\n

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Nolan Traore has blown me away<\/p>\n

Playing what I think is the position with the steepest learning curve for rookies, Traore has made in-season adjustments much faster than I anticipated <\/p>\n

He breaks down defenses with his speed & capitalizes with his passing pic.twitter.com\/krOKXtCGsa<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) March 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Traore continues to develop as both a scoring weapon and a playmaker. Earlier in the month, he notched his first double-double with 13 points and 13 assists against the Bulls, setting a Nets rookie record<\/a> for most assists in a game since the 2012 relocation. As he becomes more confident, he could have some unexpected longevity in the Nets\u2019 backcourt.<\/p>\n

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There might not be a ton of reasons to watch the Nets these days, but Nolan Traore gave me one last night. He posted a career-high 13 assists, showcasing a passing vision and pick-and-roll poise beyond his years. I broke it down on the Substack.<\/p>\n

Here’s a clip: pic.twitter.com\/uup4fvuaFG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Andrew Eastwick (@AndrewEastwick) February 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Embracing Tank, Commitment to Development
\nWith countless tough opponents left this season<\/a>, it\u2019s entirely possible the Nets don\u2019t win another game this year, especially since they are in the race for the top pick in the draft.<\/p>\n

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But they can\u2019t throw away the rest of the season, and Fernandez is not the type to intentionally lose games anyway. This is still a great opportunity to increase their lottery percentage while seeing how rookies like Traore stack up against some of the league\u2019s best guards and defenses.<\/p>\n

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Even after a February that elevated him to a real scoring threat and a truly exciting playmaker in the starting position, the Frenchman has been far from perfect.<\/p>\n

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As a starter<\/a>, he is averaging 3.1 Turnovers per game, which would be top-20 in the league. This is also up from his overall average of 2.1. In his last three games, he has turned it over 13 times, including a six-turnover game<\/a> against the Miami Heat. That performance was his worst all year, and teammate Ben Saraf<\/a> was just as bad.<\/p>\n

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Asked Jordi Fernandez about Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf combining for zero assists and 12 turnovers through three quarters last night:<\/p>\n

\u201cThey need to grow. Watch it and learn from it. I know they\u2019re better. It\u2019s not an excuse that they\u2019re young. I\u2019ve watched them play, and they\u2019re\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/GH6gl0dz28<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Erik Slater (@erikslater_) March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

But the Nets will continue to be patient with his development and help him become more comfortable using his speed and crafty playmaking.<\/p>\n

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Early on, scouts said Traore would need reps in an NBA offense to get more comfortable, which we see pretty much game by game. He is also young, at 19, and emerging much sooner than most expected. He was seen as a heavy project player and is already running an offense as the primary ball handler. That part is encouraging at the very least.<\/p>\n

Guard of the Future
\nTraore has an impressively high ceiling. It\u2019s going to take a labor of love from Fernandez to squeeze the juice out of Traore, but Jordi is enjoying the fruits of that labor much earlier than anyone thought he would. And even through the horrid record, Traore continues to impress in the league, especially the fellow Frenchman Victor Wembanyama<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Victor Wembanyama had high praise for Nolan Traore, who he practiced with leading up to the 2024 Olympics:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I noticed from him was the maturity and the way he could control the game. And the way that whoever the opponent is doesn\u2019t matter. He\u2019s got real guts. I believe\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/rAr5i8lfj4<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Erik Slater (@erikslater_) February 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The patience is paying off for now, and fans patiently wait to see how Marks will move this coming draft cycle. Again, Marks tends to draft based on the best available. But this year\u2019s top picks are so contentious that there is no clear best available player.<\/p>\n

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The Nets absolutely shouldn\u2019t pass on generational talent. Still, the front office could certainly be swayed to pick a player like Dybansta, Boozer, or even Wilson to fit Fernandez\u2019s vision better.<\/p>\n

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Nolan Traore\u2019s emergence, exponential growth, and high ceiling could provide some clarity into the decision-making heading into such a deep, guard-heavy draft class.<\/p>\n