10 Bold Nets Predictions for the 2026-27 NBA Season

The Brooklyn Nets are heading into the 2026-27 season with plenty of questions surrounding a young roster, and with training camp approaching, predictions about what could happen over the next year are already starting to come in.

One Nets fan recently shared 10 predictions for the upcoming season and beyond, covering everything from Egor Dëmin's potential breakout to the futures of Michael Porter Jr., Day'Ron Sharpe, and several of Brooklyn's young players.

There are some predictions I completely agree with, while others I am not quite ready to get behind.

I am fully on board with this one.

Dëmin should be one of the biggest breakout candidates on the Nets this season after showing flashes as a rookie. I expect him to be significantly better than he was last season, and by the end of the year, I would not be surprised if he is viewed as one of the most promising young guards in the NBA.

Calling him a future All-Star is certainly a big prediction, but I believe Dëmin has that kind of ceiling.

This is another prediction I agree with.

Jordi Fernández was a major supporter of bringing Ellis to Brooklyn after their time together in Sacramento, and that relationship could be important for the guard's future with the Nets.

Ellis should be extremely comfortable in Fernández's system, and I expect him to become one of Brooklyn's most trusted perimeter defenders. Beyond his defense, he can be an important leader and role model for a young group of guards.

I could absolutely see Ellis sticking around Brooklyn for years.

I agree with this possibility as well, particularly when it comes to Wagner.

The Nets adding Mo Wagner in free agency this offseason makes the idea of eventually bringing his brother, Franz Wagner, to Brooklyn especially interesting. Orlando has invested heavily in the Franz Wagner-Paolo Banchero pairing, but if that duo ultimately does not take the Magic where they want to go, changes could eventually be made.

If Franz becomes available, Brooklyn could make a lot of sense.

This is where I disagree.

I would expect Noah Clowney and Danny Wolf to still be in Brooklyn a year from now. Both players feel like important parts of the Nets' long-term frontcourt plans.

Ben Saraf and Drake Powell are a little different.

If Mikel Brown Jr. has a strong rookie season and Nolan Traoré takes another step forward, Saraf's role could become somewhat redundant. Powell also has to show meaningful offensive improvement. His defense is already a major part of his game, but if he cannot develop offensively, Brooklyn could eventually look for someone who provides more on both ends.

I am still hopeful about all four players, but Saraf and Powell have more to prove.

I agree here.

I feel very good about Traoré having a strong sophomore season. If he takes the expected next step, I could see him and Dëmin becoming two major hits from Brooklyn's recent young-player additions.

I am not ready to call Powell or Saraf misses yet, though, and I still have plenty of optimism about Wolf.

Unfortunately, I agree.

I have a hard time seeing Brooklyn and Porter reaching an extension. If an agreement cannot be reached, I could see the Nets moving him during the season or allowing him to leave in free agency.

The interesting part is what Brooklyn could get in return. If the Nets eventually pursue Franz Wagner, Porter could potentially be part of a larger trade package.

I have a lot of confidence in Fernández, but I would pump the brakes on this prediction.

I think the Nets are going to surprise people and potentially outperform the expectations placed on them. Fernández has already shown why Brooklyn believes he is the right coach for this rebuild.

I just do not think he finishes top five in Coach of the Year voting this season.

That could absolutely change down the line. I would not be surprised if Fernández eventually wins the award or comes very close.

This is another prediction I can get behind.

I could see Brown having a somewhat slow and inconsistent start to his rookie season. That is not necessarily a bad thing for the No. 6 overall pick. For some young players, the game takes time to slow down at the NBA level.

I expect Brown to figure things out as the season progresses, and I would be surprised if he does not end up somewhere on an All-Rookie team.

I think this one is very realistic.

Sharpe averaged nine points, seven rebounds, and two assists in just 19 minutes per game last season while primarily coming off the bench.

Now, he is expected to have a much larger role.

If Sharpe gets around 28 minutes per game as a starter, his production should naturally increase. A season around 12 points and 11 rebounds is certainly within the realm of possibility, and I also expect him to put himself in position for a long-term contract with Brooklyn.

This is probably the prediction where I differ the most.

The Nets won just 20 games last season, and I absolutely expect them to improve on that total. The roster is more talented and has more depth than it did a year ago.

But jumping all the way to 37 wins would mean adding 17 victories to last season's total.

I am not quite there yet.

I think Brooklyn can be significantly better without necessarily being a Play-In team. There are still a lot of young players who need to develop, and the Nets are going to be relying heavily on players with limited NBA experience.

Overall, I agree with a lot of these predictions. I am especially bullish on Dëmin, Traoré, Ellis, Brown, and Sharpe, while I think Clowney and Wolf are going to remain important pieces of Brooklyn's long-term plans.

The biggest question may ultimately be how quickly this young Nets roster comes together. If several of these predictions hit, Brooklyn could look very different a year from now.