The NBA regular season is over, which means many teams are shifting their focus entirely to the 2026 NBA Draft.
With nearly half of the teams done with games for the season, their scouts and front office executives will soon determine which future pros they may add to their roster for next year. After an exciting March Madness tournament won by the Michigan Wolverines, several prospects showed exactly what they can offer in the league.
As many collegiate players announce their intention to declare early entry to the 2026 NBA Draft, we can start to develop a more clear picture of what this class may look like.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, which will determine the order of picks one through fourteen, will be held May 10 in Chicago, followed immediately that week by the draft combine, also in Chicago.
Here’s how USA TODAY currently projects the No. 3 pick will play out with Brooklyn Nets making the selection.
Our draft order is based on Tankathon.com and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Brooklyn Nets 2026 projected draft picks
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No. 3, No. 33 and No. 43 (via LAC)
Brooklyn Nets 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 3 overall, Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Kalbrosky’s Analysis:
While he is no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. The Nets had the worst offense in the NBA and could change the course of the franchise by selecting Peterson. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season.
See USA TODAY’s full mock draft 10.0 here
Darryn Peterson player profile
(all stats as of April 8)
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44.2 field goal percentage
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38.4 three-point field goal percentage
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brooklyn Nets NBA mock draft: latest predictions before 2026 playoffs
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