Nets' Season Opener Headlined by 2024's Top Draft Choice

The regular season is near.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Just 68 days from now, the Brooklyn Nets will travel to the Peach State to take on the Atlanta Hawks in the organization's 2024-25 season opener. Equipped with Trae Young, Clint Capela and this summer's number one overall pick Zacharie Risacher, last season's eight-seed will serve as an interesting first challenge for the new-look Nets.

Atlanta barely snuck into the postseason back in mid-April, and while not a powerhouse, they should prove to give Brooklyn fans a decent idea of what the road ahead may look like.

Despite their entrance into a total overhaul, no member of the Nets' roster is in it to lose. The plan will be to make Risacher's first true professional a living hell and leave Atlanta 1-0. Brooklyn actually matches up with the Hawks quite well on paper when each rotation is broken down positionally.

Dorian Finney-Smith should be able to keep Young in check. At this stage of his career, Nic Claxton is essentially a higher-quality version of Capela. The forwards appear to be a wash, but for argument's sake, Deandre Hunter will be given the edge on Cam Johnson.

Risacher will be a wildcard, as, despite an impressive summer league, one can never accurately predict what a rookie's debut will have in store. Maybe Cam Thomas will pick him up defensively? If those two are poised for a head-to-head matchup, Thomas could be headed towards a 30-ball on opening day.

One of the lesser-covered headlines will be Dennis Schroder's return to Atlanta, whom he spent six seasons with from 2013 to 2018. After dominating the Paris Olympics while representing Germany, the 30-year-old may provide just the boost Brooklyn needs to head into game two in Orlando.

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