More lottery heartbreak for the Brooklyn Nets. What else is new?
After falling to No. 6 in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Nets will go back to the drawing board as they move forward in their rebuild. Step one will be finding a franchise cornerstone with their highest pick since 2010. Luckily for Brooklyn, this year's draft is among the deepest in recent memory, offering them several intriguing options.
Draft prospects will undergo measurements, strength and agility testing, on-court workouts and interviews this week at the combine. Here are five players Nets fans should have their eyes on.
5 best options for Nets with No. 6 pick in 2026 NBA draft
Cooper Flagg (51) participates in the 2025 NBA Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena.
David Banks-Imagn Images
Keaton Wagler — PG/SG, Illinois
A three-star recruit, Wagler came out of nowhere this season, leading Illinois to the Final Four and solidifying himself as a potential top-five pick. The 6-foot-5 guard excelled as Illinois' lead offensive creator, averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 39.7 percent from three on 10.6 attempts per 100 possessions. He made up for his limited athleticism with his high-level pace and floor processing as a pick-and-roll ball-handler (2.38 ast/to ratio).
Wagler thrived on the biggest stage, averaging 18.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists on .437/.371/.714 shooting splits across five NCAA Tournament appearances. However, his slight frame and limited athleticism have raised concerns about his ability to create separation and score in the paint against NBA defenders, similar to Egor Demin.
Yet, Wagler was a far superior ball-handler, shot creator and outside shooter than Demin during his freshman season. The 19-year-old's positional size, high feel and ball-handling align with the Nets' areas of emphasis in last year's draft.
“It’s 0.5-second basketball, you catch and make a decision. You don’t hold the ball,” GM Sean Marks said. “It’s also where the NBA is going: guys who can play multiple positions, guard multiple positions and make it hard on the defense.”
There's early speculation that the Los Clippers could target Wagler at No. 5 to pair a bigger guard with Darius Garland. If the Clippers pass, he could be the Nets' pick at No. 6 and slot in as their lead ball-handler alongside Demin.
Darius Acuff Jr. — PG, Arkansas
There's a strong chance Acuff will be there for the Nets at No. 6, with the Clippers, who just traded for Garland, picking ahead of them. The Arkansas guard is among the most polarizing players in this year's draft.
First, the good. Acuff is one of the most talented offensive guard prospects in recent memory. The 6-foot-3 floor general is not overly explosive but glides to his spots with ease, playing with superb pace and poise. Acuff averaged 23.5 points while shooting 59.7 percent at the rim, 40.1 percent on long twos and 44.0 percent from three (9.0 attempts per 100 possessions) this season. He creates consistent downhill advantages and reads defensive rotations at a high level, posting 7.3 assists and 2.5 turnovers per game (2.97 ast/to ratio).
Darius Acuff spot-up 3-point shooting:
18/25 (72%) pic.twitter.com/lghRgUriQE
— Erik Slater (@ErikSlater_) May 12, 2026
Acuff notably elevated his play on the biggest stage. He averaged 29.8 points and 6.5 assists on .451/.450/.850 shooting splits across six appearances during tournament play.
Now, the bad. Acuff was unquestionably a defensive liability for the Razorbacks. He struggled to stay in front of opposing ball-handlers and provided little to no impact as a rebounder or defensive playmaker. His defensive effort and engagement were often lacking. However, Acuff's believers will point to the heavy load he shouldered as Arkansas' lead offensive creator. His stocky frame and 6-foot-7-inch wingspan could inspire optimism about his long-term defensive outlook.
The Nets have faded undersized guards who struggle defensively throughout Sean Marks' tenure. However, they may be willing to take a chance on one of the draft's top offensive prospects with hopes of bringing more out of him on the other end.
Mikel Brown Jr. — PG, Louisville
Brown may have the highest upside of any prospect in this group. The 6-foot-4 guard was pushing up towards the top five of mock drafts this time last year. However, a back injury hampered him during his freshman season at Louisville, raising uncertainty about his long-term outlook.
Still, Brown possesses the best combination of size, outside shooting, ball-handling and athleticism out of the draft's second-tier of guards. The 20-year-old averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists this season and flashed unlimited shooting range, converting 34.4 percent of 14.7! three-point attempts per 100 possessions. He consistently created downhill advantages in isolation and pick-and-roll sets, and with a 38.5-inch max vertical, shot an impressive 65.3 percent at the rim.
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In addition to his impressive shooting flashes, Brown showcased high-level passing ability, posting a 30.3 assist percentage. However, his offensive process and decision-making often left something to be desired, as he averaged 3.1 turnovers per game and shot just 41.0 percent from the field. There are also questions about whether his slight frame (190 lbs) will hold up defensively at the next level.
The Nets will have to decide whether they believe in Brown's shooting and ability to process NBA defenses. Despite reservations about his skill set, he has a clear sell as a sizable guard who can shoot from anywhere, get downhill, finish at the rim, and create for teammates.
Kingston Flemings — PG, Houston
Flemings is the best two-way prospect of the draft's second tier of guards. The 19-year-old is among the most explosive athletes in this year's class, routinely touching the paint using a lightning-quick first step and posting a 40.5-inch max vertical. He was poised while shouldering a heavy burden in Houston's offense, averaging 16.1 points while shooting 47.6 percent from the field with 5.2 assists and 1.8 turnovers per game (2.91 ast/to ratio). Meanwhile, he fully embraced the intensity and engagement required to defend at the point of attack in Kelvin Sampson's system.
Fleming's detractors will point to his poor measurables, limited three-point volume, and spotty finishing. He measured 6-foot-2.5 inches barefoot with a 6-foot-3.5-inch wingspan (yikes) at the combine, attempted 2.9 threes per game this season, and shot 47.9 percent at the rim during Big 12 play.
Kingston Flemings spot-up 3-point shooting:
15/25 (60%) pic.twitter.com/jEYP3mkxPD
— Erik Slater (@ErikSlater_) May 12, 2026
Yet, Flemings showcased high-level defensive instincts, generating consistent deflections and posting a 3.0 percent steal rate. He shot 44.3 percent on long twos and 84.5 percent from the free-throw line, inspiring hope about his three-point outlook. And while his finishing numbers dipped during tournament play, he shot 57.2 percent at the rim overall. Flemings finished the season with a +12.9 box plus-minus, making him one of 12 freshmen to post above a +12.0 BMP in the last 15 years (minimum 500 minutes played), per Stathead.
The Nets have been linked to Flemings throughout the season. While there should be clear reservations about drafting a mid-range-heavy, undersized guard at No. 6, there's a lot to like about his skill set.
Aday Mara — C, Michigan
Mara is the wild card of this list. The 21-year-old may have helped his stock more than any other prospect while leading Michigan to an NCAA title. His physical stature has been the talk of NBA circles at the combine, as he measured 7-foot-3 barefoot with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and 9-foot-9 standing reach.
Mara averaged 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists on 66.8 percent shooting in only 23.4 minutes per game this season. Defensively, he blocked 2.6 shots per game while anchoring a Michigan unit that ranked first in the nation. Offensively, he thrived as a play finisher while flashing impressive passing ability.
Mara's rim protection and rebounding could go a long way for a Nets team that has struggled in both areas during Sean Marks' tenure. Offensively, the Spaniard could provide an intriguing pick-and-roll partner and DHO hub for Brooklyn's young guards. Mara has also flashed shooting potential, converting 41.1 percent of his long twos this season. He shot 16-of-25 (64 percent) during the star three-point shooting drill at Tuesday's combine workout.
Aday Mara spot-up 3-point shooting:
12/25 (48%) pic.twitter.com/IpLnXvXwYO
— Erik Slater (@ErikSlater_) May 12, 2026
No. 6 may be high for Brooklyn to take a chance on Mara, especially given the depth of guard talent in this year's class. However, the 7-foot-3 big man has game-changing two-way ability. The Nets could investigate trade-down opportunities if they're high on his skill set.
More lottery heartbreak for the Brooklyn Nets. What else is new? After falling to No. 6 in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Nets will go back to the drawing board as they move forward in their rebuild. Step one will be finding a franchise cornerstone with their highest pick since 2010.