Nets summer league player grades: Drew Timme drops 30 vs. Wizards
The Nets lost to the Wizards on Sunday 102-96 despite center Drew Timme going off for 30 points, five rebounds, and three assists while guard Tyson Etienne had 15 points and three assists. Part of the reason for the loss was Brooklyn being unable to contain Tre Johnson, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, as he dropped 21 points and three rebounds.
Ultimately, the Nets were pretty much in lockstep with the Wizards in terms of the general statistical categories, but Brooklyn shooting just 53.3% from the free-throw line didn't help matters. With that being said, the Nets are now 0-2 in Las Vegas with three games to go so here are the Nets player grades following Sunday's loss to the Wizards:
Egor Demin: C+
Demin did not shoot the ball well in this one, but the good news is that he's keeping the confidence to continue taking shots, even if they aren't falling on a regular basis. Demin shot 10 three-pointers and while he was just 4-for-10 from that range, his shooting will be tested during the season so he has to start getting used to the high volume. Demin finished with a solid overall line of 12 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Tyson Etienne: B+
Etienne had one of the best performances on the team as he caught fire from behind the three-point line and didn't mind getting 12 attempts up over the course of the game, either. Etienne has already earned one of the three Two-Way spots on the team so at this point, he is looking to work on the weaknesses of his game and provide veteran leadership to the younger players on the roster.
TJ Bamba: C-
Bamba drew the start in the wake of the Nets electing to bring Nolan Traore off the bench and not play with three point guards on the floor at the same time within the starting lineup. Bamba did not shoot the ball well, but he provided strong defense while making plenty of effort plays that Brooklyn benefitted from over the course of what was a tightly-contested game.
Danny Wolf: A
Wolf had the kind of bounceback performance that he was hoping for after Thursday's rough outing in the loss to the Thunder. Wolf stuffed the stat sheet in every way possible against the Wizards as he was efficient shooting the ball from long range while being all over the boards. In addition to that, Wolf was a menace on the defensive end of the floor as he totaled three steals and four blocks.
Drew Timme: A+
Timme had the kind of outing in this one that might show that he doesn't need anything out of Summer League other than to just pad his stats. Timme had another standout performance as he used impressive footwork to score on whoever was guarding him, even Wizards forward Alex Sarr, who had his own version of a block party as well.
Nolan Traore: B-
Traore surprisingly didn't start in this one and while he did tweak his ankle in Thursday's loss to the Thunder, he looked fine against Washington and was a blur with the ball in his hands like usual. Traore did not have the kind of efficient outing that he had in his Summer League debut as he struggled to finish over the likes of Sarr as he was waiting at the rim the entire game.
Ben Saraf: B-
Saraf got the chance to have the ball in his hands more than he did on Thursday and the results were up and down throughout the game. Saraf had some nice moments getting to the rim and setting up his teammates with some helpful assists, but he also had some instances where Washington's ball pressure was too much for him to handle.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Dylan Cardwell signs contract with Kings G League Affiliate
One of the most influential members in Auburn basketball history will start his first proffesional season in the NBA G League. Center Dylan Cardwell, who finished his Tigers career with a program record 166 games played, signed a contract with the Sacramento Kings G League Affiliate, the Stockton Kings, earlier this week. Cardwell's two-way contract comes off the heels of an impressive NBA Summer League stretch which saw the center collect 2.3 points, 0.7 blocks and 3.3 rebounds per game over a six-game span. The five-year contributor at Auburn flashed the effort and motor that made him a fan favorite on the Plains throughout his Summer League stint, leading to plenty of highlight level dunks and blocks throughout his campaign. While Cardwell wasn't quite impressive enough to earn a contract with the big league squad, the un-drafted rookie now has the chance to develop in a Kings system that lacks top-end front court talent. Auburn's all-time winningest player is unlikely to turn himself into a double-digit scorer in the NBA, but relentless defense and a keen knack for finding rebounds could lead to success in the G League, and possibly the NBA. Dylan Cardwell finished his Auburn career with 700 career points, 641 rebounds, and 211 blocks in 166 games played. He ranks among the top 5 in games played (first), blocks (fourth), and offensive rebounds (second). Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter@TheRealBHauch
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mavericks' D'Angelo Russell speaks on impact of Nets organization
The Brooklyn Nets are in the early stages of its latest rebuild and there are some around the league wondering if the organization will be able to field a winner soon. Dallas Mavericks guard D'Angelo Russell, who played for Brooklyn last season after being acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers in a midseason, still has plenty of good things to say about the Nets. "It's crazy. Obviously, the city's one thing, but the organization of Brooklyn is different. It's unlike any other. the performance team, coach, everything about Brooklyn is different than you would expect," Russell said when discussing what playing in Brooklyn is like. Russell, the host of "The Backyard" podcast collaborated with Dwyane Wade, the host of "The Time Out" podcast, as part of Fanatics Fest. "I've been around a league where I came from the Lakers where the structure is not the same," Russell continued. "Then, I go to Brooklyn where it's all structure and it taught me how to be a professional. I always approached the game to where I just was kind of nonchalant and I felt like I could just wing it. When I got to Brooklyn, it taught me how to be a professional." Russell, 29, spent the first two years of his career with the Lakers after being selected with the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft out of Ohio State. Russell's first stint with the Nets began with the 2017-18 season after Los Angeles traded him to Brooklyn in the offseason. Russell went on to be one of the main reasons for the Nets' turnaround during that time and he even made his first and only All-Star appearance during the 2018-19 season. Russell's second stint in Brooklyn happened during the 2024-25 season in which his acquisition from the Lakers was regarded as the Nets trying to get draft capital and/or young players in exchange for taking on players with fairly-high salaries like Russell. Despite how much he talked about wanting to stay in Brooklyn, Russell signed with the Mavericks earlier this summer as it looks like he will have more of a chance to play while Kyrie Irving is rehabbing his knee injury. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Mavericks' D'Angelo Russell speaks on impact of Nets organization
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Could the Nets risk ruining their culture during this rebuild?
The Brooklyn Nets have made it clear since last offseason that they are going to find their next star through the draft and they are rebuilding as aggressively as possible. Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks missed on the opportunity to get a premium pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but there could be a risk to trying to get the best pick possible moving forward. "There is a stark difference between losing and tanking, and the Nets will be doing the latter, having torn the roster down to the studs in an attempt to rebuild it. It's a gamble — and a dangerous one. 'You just exist on a spreadsheet,' one highly regarded agent told The Post," Brian Lewis of the New York Post wrote (h/t to NetsDaily) discussing the Nets' rebuild. While optimizing draft capital is key to rebuilding, there is also a drawback to the organization. "A lot of these teams that try to bottom out by tanking like Brooklyn is doing, they think there's no consequences,' an agent told the Post," Lewis continued. "You risk eroding the environment you're trying to create. That's what happened in Philadelphia." The agent that Lewis spoke to is communicating what some fans and pundits believe about teams that invest so much in a rebuild to the point that the players on the team don't matter in the end. With the agent's reference to the Philadelphia 76ers, the worst outcome that can happen to a team's culture is what occurred during Sam Hinkie's days as Philadelphia's general manager. Granted, due to Hinkie's aggressive approach towards prioritizing draft position while not getting too attached to any players on the roster throughout the years, the 76ers were able to draft star-level players in center Joel Embiid and guard Ben Simmons. Guard D'Angelo Russell was the most recent former player to speak on Brooklyn's culture, something that he appreciated the most out of all of the teams that he has played for during his career. While Marks would be doing the sensible action by keeping the future at the forefront of his mind, there is the possibility of ruining the good will the organization has built up over the years. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Could the Nets risk ruining their culture during this rebuild?
