Second-Year G Traoré Leads Nets in Scoring Amidst Starters' Struggles

The Brooklyn Nets stuck with the Indiana Pacers in the first half of Sunday's loss, but were unable to pull out a victory, with the game slipping away late in the second half.

Second-year guard Nolan Traoré picked up the offensive struggles from Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle, scoring a team-high 17 points.

Traoré knocked down two of his three triples, while adding five assists and two blocks.

As last year's No. 19 overall pick, Traoré appeared in 56 games, making 31 starts towards the end of the season.

While entering the starting lineup may be a reach, Traoré earning minutes as the bench initiator is definitely possible.

On Sunday, Traoré did a great job of getting downhill and making smart reads, finding his teammates on the perimeter for open looks.

But, his top pass of the night was on a pick-and-roll action with backup center Chaney Johnson, coming off the screen with pace and floating it up to his rolling big man.

As the year continues and Mikel Brown Jr. gets fully healthy, expect head coach Jordi Fernández to give Traoré significant minutes off the bench.

Last season, Traoré showed real growth throughout the year, taking advantage of increased opportunity.

In early-April, during a 121-115 victory over the Washington Wizards, Traore recorded a career-high 23 points, knocking down five 3-pointers.

The rookie added seven assists, marking a a fourth straight game of double-digit scoring and strong passing.

After a scoreless initial minute of gameplay, Traoré nailed a top of the key 3-pointer to open the scoring for the Nets. From there, he got comfortable, pulling up for threes with confidence. 

Going forward, Traoré's ability to consistently make outside shots will dictate his ability to make a significant impact, as 3-point shooting has been a knack on his game since being drafted.

Throughout the preseason, he looked much-improved, scoring 51 points in just 68 minutes while shooting 56.3% from the field in four appearances.

After attempting zero 3-pointers in his first outing against the Charlotte Hornets, Traoré shot 4-for-11 over his next three games, scoring at least 12 points in each.

Outside of Egor Dëmin, the other four first-round draft picks from Brooklyn's haul two seasons ago are trying to separate themselves and earn significant roles on the team going forward.

Traoré is the likely candidate to earn playing time with the current roster configuration, supplementing a backcourt needing to get healthy.

The Nets are back in action Tuesday against the Boston Celtics at 7:30 p.m.