Nolan Traore

Brooklyn found rotation value at pick 19 in Nolan Traore, a French lead guard whose calling card is pace — he pushes the ball with a speed that bends defenses before they set. Coming over from Saint-Quentin in France's top flight, he stepped straight into real minutes, averaging 8.9 points and 3.8 assists across 56 games with 31 starts. The season followed a rookie arc worth noting: a sluggish, turnover-prone opening gave way to a February surge of 12.2 points and 5.6 assists a night once the game slowed down for him. The efficiency isn't there yet — 38% from the floor tells you the scoring package needs polish — but the playmaking vision and improved defensive effort are the traits that stick. For a Nets team stockpiling young talent, Traore looks like the kind of table-setter a rebuild can grow around.