Brooklyn Nets Sign 2025 Draft Pick Drake Powell After Hawks Trade

The Brooklyn Nets made a historic move in the 2025 NBA Draft by selecting five players in the first round, including North Carolina forward Drake Powell with the 22nd overall pick, acquired in a multi-team trade with the Atlanta Hawks. Powell, who averaged 7.4 points and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors at North Carolina, has officially signed a multi-year contract with the Nets but will miss the upcoming Las Vegas Summer League due to left knee tendinitis. The trade that brought Powell and veteran guard Terance Mann to Brooklyn was finalized after the NBA's free agency moratorium, involving the Boston Celtics and Hawks, with the Nets also adding guards Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf, and forward Danny Wolf in the draft. Mann, a 28-year-old Brooklyn native known for his 3-and-D capabilities, averaged 7.7 points and 3.0 rebounds last season and is expected to bring veteran experience to the team immediately. Despite a disappointing 26-56 record in the previous season, these acquisitions signify the Nets' commitment to rebuilding and improving under head coach Jordi Fernandez. Fans will have to wait until the preseason to see Powell in action, though his tendinitis is not expected to hinder his offseason development.