CHICAGO — The Brooklyn Nets came away from the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery with a disappointing result as they have the No. 6 overall pick instead of the No. 3 pick that they started with. Brooklyn has two picks in the second round of June’s draft and with one of those picks, they could take a player who has shown time and again that he knows how to run an offense.
“I think anywhere that gives me the opportunity would be great. I would make it work,” Purdue guard Braden Smith said to Nets Wire during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine. While there is plenty of talk about the many talented guards that are available starting with the middle of the Lottery, Smith appears to be one of the guards that could surprise some people next year if given the opportunity to play.
“Despite obvious physical limitations, scouts still sound optimistic about Braden Smith’s ability to carve out a setup role,” Jonathan Wasserman wrote of Smith in his latest mock draft for Bleacher Report. “He got to any spot he wanted to in NBA combine scrimmages, and that IQ and craftiness for creating for others could be useful to a number of teams.”
Smith, listed at 5-foot-10 and 166.6 pounds, has been one of the best guards in college basketball over the past two seasons, but at the next level, scouts will be wondering if his size will hinder his ability to make an impact moving forward. In his senior season with the Boilermakers, Smith averaged 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 44.0% from the field and 36.2% from behind the three-point line.
Despite the Nets taking four guards in the 2025 NBA Draft, they could still be looking for guard help given that head coach Jordi Fernandez is looking for as many ball-handlers and decision-makers as possible. Smith could fit that bill and with Wasserman projecting the former Purdue lead guard to be taken with the 41st overall pick, the Nets could do worse than taking him with the 43rd pick.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Potential Nets 2026 NBA Draft pick Braden Smith talks possible fit
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
