Brooklyn Nets' Biggest Needs Ahead of 2026 NBA Draft
Despite making a whopping five first-round selections last year, the Brooklyn Nets should still ignore positional need and take the best player on the board. Egor Dёmin showed the most promise as a 6'8" point guard, although his height would allow him to play next to a traditional floor general as well.
There's not a single player the Nets can lean on as a franchise centerpiece yet, although that could change in this draft.
The No. 6 overall pick means missing out on AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer and others. However, the Nets are guaranteed to get a player such as Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr., or Brayden Burries.
2025-26 Record: 20-62
Draft Picks: 6, 33, 43
Shooting
The Brooklyn Nets had one of the NBA's best shooters in 2025-26. His efficiency was down a bit with increased responsibility, but Michael Porter Jr. still hit 3.4 threes per game at a 36.3 percent clip.
That wasn't good enough to save Brooklyn from having the worst three-point percentage in the league this season. And if any of their young playmakers (the Nets took Egor Dёmin, Nolan Traoré and Ben Saraf in last summer's first round) are going to survive, they'll need more reliable catch-and-shoot threats to spray out to.
Development
Of course, the young playmakers have to be better too. The Nets don't even need all three of the above to drastically improve. If even one takes real steps forward as a ballhandler and facilitator, Brooklyn's trajectory will look far more intriguing.
Luck
The Nets already got their dose of bad luck when they dropped three spots in the lottery to the sixth overall pick.
Now, they need a draft-night slide from a special talent. There will likely be a handful of high-potential guards still available in their range. Last year's draft strategy shouldn't dissuade them from taking the best available player there.
The nice thing about Dёmin, specifically, is that his 6'8" frame, at least in theory, makes him playable with other guards.
