Nets 2026 NBA Draft class receives B grade heading into free-agency
· Yahoo Sports
The Brooklyn Nets did what they could to maximize their picks in the 2026 NBA Draft as they hope to improve significantly after a 20-62 record in the 2025-26 campaign. Brooklyn came away disappointed from the Lottery given that they fell to the No. 6 overall pick, but after selecting Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. with the pick, it seems the Nets did a good job with their draft.
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"Brown now becomes the closest thing Brooklyn has to a franchise star after averaging 18.2 points and 4.7 assists as a freshman at Louisville," Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz wrote on Brooklyn's selection of Brown. In all, the Nets received a B from B/R for their entire draft class as they also took Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson with the No. 28 pick and UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau with the No. 43 pick.
"Jefferson is one of the best big-man passers in the entire draft, even if he's more comfortable playing at a slower pace," Swartz continued. "Bilodeau is a 6'9" floor-spacing forward that fits in well after drafting so many playmakers." Ultimately, the Nets will be hoping that Brown can be a crucial part of the rebuild so that the franchise can get back to competing in the playoffs.
Prior to the draft, the Nets made one of the bigger moves this offseason when they acquired forward Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The deal required Brooklyn to send Minnesota the No. 33 pick and trade center Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal that essentially allowed the Timberwolves to free up salary cap space by no longer having Randle on the roster.
Brown could be the starting point guard on opening night, Jefferson will be competing for playing time in the frontcourt, and Bilodeau will potentially spend most of his time in the G League after signing a Two-Way contract. As it stands, the Nets have taken care of the draft before they have to address free-agency and trades, but it looks like they're starting the offseason on the right foot.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets 2026 NBA Draft class receives B grade heading into free-agency
