The 2026 NBA Draft is just a few days away, where there will be several answers to some of the Brooklyn Nets\u2019 most pressing offseason questions.<\/p>\n
Brooklyn has done their due diligence on their potential targets, hosting several players expected to be available at No. 6 overall for workouts at the HSS Training Center, including Louisville\u2019s Mikel Brown Jr., Tennessee\u2019s Nate Ament, Arkansas\u2019 Darius Acuff Jr. and Karim Lopez of the New Zealand Breakers.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind that the organization could have worked out more prospects in that range. Those are the notable ones reported, though.<\/p>\n
With the draft right around the corner, we\u2019ve been making our own calls to league sources to try to find out the latest regarding Brooklyn\u2019s thought process as the big day at the Barclays Center approaches.<\/p>\n
The latest intel regarding the Nets\u2019 draft plans<\/p>\n
Throughout the pre-draft process, the Nets have done a strong job of keeping their plans tight to the vest. There have been no significant \u201cleaks\u201d or anything that indicates the team\u2019s pick is a firm lock known to the public.<\/p>\n
Based on our conversations with league sources, though, Nate Ament and Mikel Brown Jr. seem to be the top two candidates to be selected by Brooklyn at No. 6 \u2026. not necessarily in that order.<\/p>\n
The Nets\u2019 ultimate selection at No. 6, or if they look to potentially move back or add a first could hinge on the Los Angeles Clippers\u2019 decision at No. 5 overall. It will be fascinating to see what the Clippers do in that spot.<\/p>\n
Following this year\u2019s draft, the Clippers don\u2019t own clear title to another first-round selection until 2029, and, due to the league\u2019s ongoing investigation into the organization and the company \u201cAspiration,\u201d its status has to be uncertain. It will be up to Commissioner Adam Silver if they lose any picks.<\/p>\n
Given the lack of first-rounders over the next few years, they are a team that could look to trade down in the draft and acquire more future draft capital, we\u2019re told. If they decide to stick and pick, however, Ament and Brown Jr. seem to be their top two options.<\/p>\n
If Brown Jr. goes off the board to the Clippers at No. 5, Illinois\u2019 Keaton Wagler could certainly be in play alongside Ament for Brooklyn at No. 6, according to league sources. On the other hand, if Wagler is selected, that would seem to be the perfect situation for Brooklyn, as Brown Jr. would fall to No. 6.<\/p>\n
I also wouldn\u2019t rule out Arkansas\u2019 Darius Acuff Jr. or Michigan\u2019s Aday Mara, although either isn\u2019t currently viewed as the favorite.<\/p>\n
The possibility of a move down the board also shouldn\u2019t be crossed off the list. One source shared with ND that Brooklyn could potentially be involved in a big trade, including veterans, due to the abundance of flexibility they boast.<\/p>\n
One source said the Nets should look to move back. The source cited the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are selecting at Nos. 12 and 17 overall and are reportedly looking to move back into the top 10, as a team worth keeping an eye on for a potential deal.<\/p>\n
Cason Wallace, who is up for a massive extension that the Thunder might not be willing to pay, was mentioned as a target Brooklyn should covet if both sides strike a deal, a source tells ND.<\/p>\n
What is the appeal with Ament?<\/p>\n
Ament is very polarizing both within the league and among the Nets\u2019 fanbase. When I first reported that buzz was heating up regarding Ament and the Nets a few weeks ago, much of Brooklyn\u2019s fanbase appeared furious with the possibility. It was L\u2019Ament.<\/p>\n
Standing at 6\u201910\u201d and 207 pounds, the Tennessee product appeared in 35 NCAA games last season (all starts) while averaging 16.7 points, 2.3 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and a steal on 39.9% shooting from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n
With a 6\u201911\u201d wingspan, he boasts great length and positional size as a wing at 6\u201910\u201d while being an excellent movement shooter. There are also a fair number of concerns regarding his profile, including his slight frame at just 207 pounds and his ability to self-create.<\/p>\n
Based on personal evaluation and conversations with scouts in the league, however, he doesn\u2019t strike me as the type of prospect who has a super low floor. A high ceiling, yes.<\/p>\n
While his ceiling may be limited, I view Ament as someone whose floor in the league is a player with elite physical tools who never fully clicks but can still consistently contribute in the rotation.<\/p>\n
As for his fit with the Nets, a league source noted how seamless his pairing could be with Egor D\u00ebmin, especially if the former No. 8 overall pick eventually develops into a full-time wing rather than a facilitator, which appears likely, according to sources.<\/p>\n
One source proposed an ideal plan for Brooklyn\u2019s future in which they select Ament at No. 6 and package both of their second-round picks (Nos. 33 and 43 overall), potentially with future draft capital, to trade back into the back end of the first round to select Valencia\u2019s 6\u20197\u201d point guard Sergio De Larrea of Valencia in the Spanish League. He\u2019s still playing in the league finals.<\/p>\n
In that case, De Larrea could emerge as the point guard of the future while moving D\u00ebmin to a full-time wing role at shooting guard. Ament would be the team\u2019s starting small forward, and Michael Porter Jr. would play at power forward with one of Nic Claxton or Day\u2019Ron Sharpe as the starting center.<\/p>\n