The Brooklyn Nets finished the 2025-26 NBA season with the third-worst record in the league (20-62), meaning that they have the third overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft prior to the Lottery on May 10. Due to the nature of the Lottery, Brooklyn’s pick could be as high as No. 1, but also as low as No. 7. Who would the Nets take with the No. 4 pick?
In a Lottery simulation conducted by Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, the Nets ended up with the fourth overall pick with the Golden State Warriors moving up 10 spots to get the No. 1 pick, seemingly pushing every other team down the board. By looking at most mock drafts, it seems that the first three players expected to be selected in the draft are BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, and Duke forward Cameron Boozer. That could leave the Nets with North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson.
“An injury cut Caleb Wilson’s season short and eliminated opportunities to build a case over the draft’s perceived Big Three,” Jonathan Wasserman wrote on Wilson for Bleacher Report in his latest mock draft for the outlet. “Still, there are NBA front office members who actually prefer Wilson to Cameron Boozer, whose athletic limitations have raised some skepticism.”
While Wilson seems to be the player most consider to be the fourth player to come off the board, the next few players could be of interest to the Nets if they prefer to add another guard on the roster. In no particular order, it seems that the next few players on the board after Wilson are Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, and Houston guard Kingston Flemings.
Wilson seems to be the player with the highest ceiling out of the bunch, but Acuff, Wagler, and Flemings could be what the team needs if they keep their frontcourt of Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, and Nic Claxton together for next season. Either way, the day of the draft will present some different challenges than what could be presented within a mock, but if the Nets slide one spot, that could be looking at a highly-talented player in Wilson.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Who would the Nets take with the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft?
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
