The Brooklyn Nets made history in the 2025 NBA Draft. Thanks to a complete teardown over the last couple of years, general manager Sean Marks had acquired five first-round picks to spend on this year’s class. With no trades made to alter those selections, Brooklyn added five new players to its roster.
That number is the all-time high, beating out the four picks made by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2009. However, even with a massive haul, the fan base wasn’t happy with the choices the Nets made, leading to many wanting their team to part ways with their longtime general manager.
Nets Fans are Done With Sean Marks
Since joining the team in 2016, Marks has been responsible for multiple eras of the franchise. Committing to building steadily, he led the team back to the playoffs after the disastrous Boston Celtics trade.
However, in the summer of 2019, Marks tried to make big swings, adding Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in one free agency, before doubling down and trading for James Harden as well. Unfortunately, the moves didn’t amount to much.
With those stars leading the way, Brooklyn won just one playoff series total before the stars demanded trades out of the team. Once again, Marks was left with a war chest of draft capital and a commitment to building from the draft again.
The 2025 NBA Draft offered a great platform to make that commitment a reality. But the offerings from the Nets have been underwhelming so far. After making the first true selection with Egor Demin, they had the chance to course correct.
After the 6-foot-9 point forward, their next choice was another international point guard, Nolan Traoré, out of France. Next came Drake Powell, out of North Carolina, who was projected as a wing but, thanks to his 6-foot-6 frame, was more likely a two-guard.
A trend, if unclear by now, became a little too apparent when they added Israeli point guard Ben Saraf. The direction from Marks was clear, but the execution felt complicated, especially as they added Danny Wolf with their last pick out of Michigan.
While technically a big man playing the power forward or center minutes exclusively, Wolf was a true ball-handler, in the same vein as three-time MVP Nikola Jokić. That meant, through the first five round picks, the Nets had added five people who worked as ball-handling guards.
While guard play was a need for the Nets, it wasn’t the only area of the roster for the team to focus on as they attempt to rebuild the roster. As a result, fans were understandably aghast.
One fan, who first wrote, “Make sure Sean Marks is in the unemployment line tonight,” doubled down throughout the evening, “Bump. Fire Sean Marks before midnight.”
Bump. Fire Sean Marks before midnight https://t.co/dOqEUqDl3N
— Juno (@TerranceJuno) June 26, 2025
Others were left shocked by the lack of big man depth Brooklyn acquired, especially as rumors of a Nicolas Claxton trade continue to mount. “Sean Marks has now failed to add one of Maluach, Carter Bryant or Noa Essengue next to Egor Demin. This is an absolute botch of a draft. This man should be unemployed!”
Sean Marks has now failed to add one of Maluach, Carter Bryant or Noa Essengue next to Egor Demin.
This is an absolute botch of a draft. This man should be unemployed! #FIRESEANMARKS
— NetsPress (@NetsPressIG) June 26, 2025
For some, the influx of international point guards was a bit too much when the Nets went for it three different times, leading to one fan declaring, “One of the worst drafts I have ever seen.”
Unfortunately, that fan wasn’t the only one ruing Brooklyn’s work at the draft. Some fans didn’t even want to wait till the end of the night’s proceedings, clamoring, “Fire Sean Marks now before the 27th pick!”
FIRE SEAN MARKS NOW Before the 27th pick!
— ɢɛʍɨռɨ (@JASPERJARROD) June 26, 2025
Some went the rather hilarious route, even though their anger at the work of the general manager was apparent. “Fire sean marks please. F***ing worst thing in Brooklyn since gentrification.”
Fire sean marks please. Fucking worst thing in Brooklyn since gentrification
— Sebastian (@Siluriforme) June 26, 2025
For others, a bigger problem was the lack of movement from Brooklyn. Holding five first-round picks, it felt criminal that the team could not make any moves to trade up in the draft, especially after teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and the New Orleans Pelicans did just that.
“Nets tanked the entire f***ing season. We got the 8th pick. Nets had 5 first round picks. And we don’t trade up at all and take a guy we could’ve got at 19. Fire Sean Marks into the sun,” one fan’s anger was palpable.
Nets tanked the entire fucking season. We got the 8th pick
Nets had 5 first round picks.
And we don’t trade up at all and take a guy we could’ve got at 19Fire Sean Marks into the SUN
— Noah Holmgren (@NoahHolmgren2) June 26, 2025
But he wasn’t the only one who saw the lack of work that went into upgrading their draft selections. Another fan added, “Sean Marks absolutely s***s, he loses every single trade and never takes any risks. Fan base glazed him after adding the 22nd pick. All those picks and he couldn’t move up.”
Sean Marks absolutely sucks, he loses every single trade and never takes any risks. Fan base glazed him after adding the 22nd pick. All those picks and he couldn’t move up.
— Expert Nets Analyst (@BKNetsTweets) June 26, 2025
The rebuild in Brooklyn isn’t over. Far from it, really. But taking five guards in a single draft feels like an oversight by Marks, unless he has a master plan or something else entirely up his sleeve.