While a standing room only crowd of 18,018 was watching the Brooklyn Nets vs. the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center Tuesday, a larger number gathered to watch a college ball double-header a few subway
stops away at Madison Square Garden, particularly a much-hyped Kansas vs. Duke matchup.
But the big number at the Garden wasn’t the 19,327.fans on hand, but the number of NBA scouts — 67 from 23 teams per Brian Lewis — taking notes. Were the Nets among the 23 who got complimentary tickets from MSG or did they put tickets on their own? It’s a good bet considering that Sean Marks & co. will have a high pick come June and that they sent scouts to every Rutgers home game in New Brunswick last season to watch Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Marks alone attended at least 10 Scarlet Knights contests. MSG is a lot closer than New Brunswick!
This is how it begins.
The hype around the game wasn’t matched by the actual game. Darryn Peterson, the 6’4” Kansas guard, didn’t play due to an injury, but Cam Boozer, Duke’s 6’10” forward wowed both scouts and fans alike. Along with BYU’s 6’9” wing, A.J. Dybantsa, they form the trio the Nets hope to choose from. All are viewed as franchise-changing, perhaps three Cooper Flaggs in waiting.
By June, of course, that trio could expand with 6’10” freshmen Caleb Wilson of UNC or Nate Ament of Tennessee or perhaps Mikel Brown, a 6’5” point guard from Louisville joining the top candidates. (Unlike last year, there appears to only one international player possibly bound for the lottery: 6’8” wing Karim Lopez who plays for the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s NBL.)
That franchise-changing description is what fascinates Nets fans everywhere, but that fascination is tempered by what took place in the draft lottery last May when they fell from sixth to eighth, a brutal disappointment for everyone. Then after trying to move up, Brooklyn decided not to pay a premium and instead went from quality to quantity, taking five firsts and trading their 2025 second for two future seconds. No one is saying what the price tag would have been to move up but there’s been some informed speculation that at least one team wanted not only the Nets No. 8 pick in 2025 but their first in 2026! Can’t imagine that would have wowed fans.
Now, with 2026 viewed as even better — at least at the top — than the 2025 Draft, interest is high as indicated by a surprising number of mock drafts already posted. So far, the five big mocks we’ve surveyed have a consensus choice for Brooklyn. Three of them like someone outside those three automatic franchise-changers. Hello Caleb Wilson.
(The placement of the Nets pick is a function of when the mocks went up. A few days ago, before the win over the Wizards, Brooklyn had the NBA’s worst record. Now, they’re tied for third and fourth.)
Jeremy Woo now has sole control of the worldwide leader’s mock drafts with Jonathan Givony returning to his duties at Draft Express. Woo likes Peterson for the Nets at No. 1, writing:
Peterson missed Kansas’s past couple of games because of a hamstring issue and was described by head coach Bill Self as out for the “immediate future,” which puts his status in doubt for a marquee matchup Tuesday against Cameron Boozer and Duke. While not officially ruled out as of Tuesday morning, that game stood as a major opportunity to show why he has been centered by NBA executives in the No. 1 pick discussion. Peterson’s dynamic three-level scoring, impressive physical tools, defensive tenacity and competitive intangibles place him among the most complete and impactful freshman guards in recent memory. It’s worth noting that NBA evaluators have been underwhelmed by the Jayhawks’ supporting cast thus far, and Kansas will seemingly go as far as Peterson can carry it. There’s room for debate around the No. 1 spot as the season unfolds, but Peterson would likely be the choice if the draft took place today. The prospect of an extended absence, however, would leave the door open for Dybantsa and Boozer to gain ground.
The Nets badly need a player to anchor their team moving forward; they’ve taken five first-round swings in the 2025 draft and are still figuring out how everyone fits long term. Peterson would address their lack of star power and then some.
Jonathan Wasserman actually came closest to nailing the Nets preferences in 2025, projecting that Brooklyn would take Nolan Traore (at No. 19); Danny Wolf (at No. 26) and Drake Powell (at No. 27) in his final mock. So, we should pay attention to him!
He has the Nets picking No. 3 and grabbing Dybantsa.
AJ Dybantsa’s signature iso scoring and three-level shotmaking came alive in the second half against Connecticut. He nearly helped carry BYU back from a 20-point deficit by going to work with his pull-ups and fallaways, easily separating using his size, footwork and release point.
He’s still clearly at his best in attack mode using his powerful frame, extension and coordination on drives.
His handle could improve in tight spaces, and the tough shots he takes could turn certain scouts off. Lottery teams may have to nitpick with such a special Tier 1 of prospects that includes Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer.
Wasserman offers a full mock — all 60 slots — and has Nets taking Isaiah Evans, the Duke 6’6” forward at No. 33 and Michigan’s 6’9” power forward Morez Johnson Jr. at No. 52. He also suggests that the 2026 Draft could be the best ever!!
Is it ever too early to check Tankathon? Never! Matt Hoover has created quite the fun site complete with the mock draft simulator which Nets fans will be playing daily, hourly or by the minute come May. He has the Nets picking No. 4 and taking Caleb Wilson.
Hoover doesn’t offer a description of Wilson’s best attributes, instead posting a video of them.
Refreshing.
Ricky O’Donnell admits he’s a fan of Caleb Wilson as well. He, too, has Nets taking the Tar Heel at No. 4. A trend?
I’ve been a fan of Wilson’s long-term upside the last two years, and he’s putting it all together right now at he start of his freshman season at North Carolina. At 6’10 with a 7’4 wingspan, Wilson has enormous defensive potential with his motor, length, and versatility. His ground coverage is such a weapon when combined with his seemingly endless fountain of energy, and watching him defend full court is art. His jump shot has always been shaky, but there’s plenty to work with offensively while it develops. Wilson can drop some great dimes with impressive passing vision, he’s a load to deal with on the offensive glass, and he has some scoring touch in the paint. The tools and the mentality are fantastic, and if the shot ever comes around, this could be an elite role player or perhaps something even greater.
Aran Smith has a reputation for being a bit of an iconoclast and indeed, in his latest mock, he has Caleb Wilson even ahead of Cam Boozer! And he thinks Wilson will be the Nets selection at No. 4, just like SB Nation and Tankathon. Here’s what he thinks of Wilson’s strengths.
6’9 talented forward … Good size and length for position … Mobile and very well-coordinated. Covers a lot of ground with his strides. Natural athlete and finishes above the rim with ease. Good body control … Shooting range extends to the 3PT line and has a good release point on shot combined with his size. Shows a midrange fadeaway that’s difficult for the defense to contest … Improved ball-handler and slashes well to the rim … Can score off the ball, reading cut opportunities as well as on the finishing end in transition … Has done a good job of recognizing mismatches, knowing when to post and finding easier opportunities to score as his high school career progressed … Draws fouls at a good rate. Shot 5.2 free throws per game over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Sees the floor and passes well, knows how to thread the needle, showing good instincts in the high post and in other half-court situations. His ability to see a play ahead of time at his size is tough to match. Pinpoints bounce passes and knows where his cutting teammates are. Leads well in transition and throws impressive outlet passes. Averaged 3.1 assists to 2.4 turnovers per game over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Good rebounder. Averaged 8.3 rebounds per game over the Nike EYBL and 7.3 (1.3 offensive) rebounds per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2023 … Has a knack for getting clean swipes on the ball and pokes the ball loose from guards. Good shot blocker and timing as a help defender. Averaged 1.8 blocks per game over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Averaged 1.4 steals per game over the Nike EYBL and 1 steal per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2023 … Naturally gifted and impacts the game in multiple areas …
The draft is seven months away and a lot can happen. For example, expect the Nets to try to get another first either at the trade deadline or just before the Draft. Marks has made moves within 48 hours of the draft nine times out of the last 10 years. In the meantime, we will be monitoring things along the way. We might even do so on a regular basis. It’s that important. As Joe Tsai said in September:
“We have one pick in 2026, and we hope to get a good pick. So you can predict what kind of strategy we will use for this season. But we have a very young team.”
