The Brooklyn Nets finished the 2025-26 NBA season with a 20-62 record, meaning that they are one of three teams with a 14.0% chance of getting the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Brooklyn began this season with the goal of developing the younger players on the team, but they are also hoping to get as lucky as possible in the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery.
After Sunday’s season-finale 136-101 loss at the Toronto Raptors, the Nets will be in the third spot in the Lottery, meaning that the furthest they can fall is the seventh overall pick. As Nets owner Joe Tsai made clear prior to the beginning of the season, Brooklyn is hoping for the best pick possible so that they can move forward knowing they have their franchise player of the future.
Heading into Sunday’s season finale, there was some hope that the Nets could be tied for the second-worst record in the NBA, meaning they could have potentially be in the second spot and only be in danger of falling to sixth. With that being said, Brooklyn has a few prospects to consider given the expected range that they could fall in depending on the Lottery.
If the Nets are lucky enough to get a top-3 pick, they would be able to add BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, or Duke forward Cameron Boozer. Assuming that Brooklyn keeps forward Michael Porter Jr. and center Nic Claxton heading into next season, the Nets could still consider the aforementioned Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer when just looking at the talent pool.
At this point, the Nets have to wait until May 10 to see where they will pick in the Draft, but before that, they will definitely plan for what they do at each spot. Brooklyn is likely hoping to be able to select Dybantsa, Peterson, and Boozer, but if not, someone like North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson or Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. could fit the bill at the lower picks.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets officially have third spot in 2026 NBA Draft Lottery
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
