New NBA Trade Rumors on Nets' No. 6 Draft Pick, Brooklyn's 'Particular Interest' in Top Prospect

The Brooklyn Nets' No. 6 pick in the 2026 NBA draft might be the floor for former Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Tuesday.

According to Fischer, "amid a belief in some corners that the Nets are open to trading their pick... sources say that they have indeed shown particular interest in Brown that would appear to run counter to any moving-down suggestions."

However, Fischer noted that "several teams who spoke to The Stein Line over the weekend insisted they believe Brooklyn will be open to trade offers for No. 6 until the moment they're on the clock next Tuesday night."

Brett Siegel of Clutch Points reported on Sunday that Brooklyn is "hoping" Brown will still be on the board. If Brown has been selected by that point, Tennessee forward Nate Ament is a "strong candidate" to be taken by the Nets.

Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor similarly reported last week "there is a sense in opposing front offices that Brooklyn could trade down" from No. 6. Siegel also noted that the Nets have taken calls to move down from No. 6 as well as the possibility of moving back into the top 15 picks.

The Nets visited Brown in Florida and hosted him in New York last week, Fischer reported.

Fischer also reported the Los Angeles Clippers, which are set to make their first selection at No. 5, are currently hosting Brown for meeting and workouts.

Brown averaged 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 21 games of his freshman season at Louisville.

His season was derailed by a lower back injury that caused him to sit out a total of 14 games.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, who projected in his latest 2026 NBA mock draft that Brown would fall to the Atlanta Hawks at No. 8, noted this back injury had influenced scouts' perceptions of Brown's college career.

"Teams have wondered how much Brown's back problems influenced the inconsistency at Louisville," Wasserman reported. "He was regarded as the top guard pre-season after Darryn Peterson, and his creativity, shotmaking and playmaking remain enticing entering the draft."

Brown told O'Connor in late May that he had been fully cleared from his back injury and was available to work out for teams.

If Brown can prove to the Clippers and Nets he has recovered from his back injury, he could potentially improve his chances of becoming a top-six pick after the 2026 NBA draft starts next Tuesday in Brooklyn.