Analyst predicts Nets’ most likely pick at No. 6 in 2026 NBA Draft

The Brooklyn Nets will face their biggest draft decision in 16 years on June 23. Despite falling to the No. 6 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Nets will have an opportunity to land a franchise centerpiece. Brooklyn’s realistic options include guards such as Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr., Darius Acuff Jr., Kinston Flemings, and Brayden Burries, as well as forwards Nate Ament and Karim Lopez, and center Aday Mara.

No Ceilings’ Corey Tulaba pointed to Wagler as Brooklyn’s most likely pick, should he make it past the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 5.

“Based on the recent history of who they drafted, I think you can make a strong argument that it might be Wagler,” Tulaba said on Locked On Nets. “When this dude took the reins over, he had some special moments. My comp for Wagler has been Austin Reaves. Plus size, maybe not the most dynamite athlete, but can make plays for his teammates, can score at multiple levels, he’s tough and physical and not afraid of contact. He’s probably not gonna be the best defender, but he at least has positional size, where you’re not gonna be killed. He cares, and his [body] will fill out. I think if you were to draft someone like Austin at six, you would be over the moon for that. Based on the way that the Nets drafted last year, he makes a lot of sense in that phylosophy.”

Brooklyn prioritized positional size, ball-handling and playmaking across its five first-round picks in the 2025 draft. Wagler checks each of those boxes at 6-foot-5 with high-level ball-handling and outside shooting ability.

Will Keaton Wagler be Nets’ pick with No. 6 pick in 2026 NBA Draft?

The 19-year-old dominated as the focal point of Illinois’ offense en route to a Final Four appearance. He shot 39.7 percent from three on 10.6 attempts per 100 possessions, and despite his limited athletic profile, he consistently got downhill and created opportunities for himself and others.

Wagler attempted 4.1 close twos per 36 minutes and converted 57.5 percent. He was adept at drawing fouls, posting a 47.6 percent free-throw rate and converting at a 79.6 percent clip. And he rarely made incorrect reads with the ball in his hands, averaging 4.2 assists and 1.8 turnovers (2.38 ast/to).

Wagler and Trae Young are the only freshmen in the last 25 years to average over 15 points per game while shooting 36.0 percent or better from three on over 10 attempts per 100 possessions with an assist percentage over 20.0 and a free-throw rate over 40.0 percent.

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor projected Wagler to be the pick for the Nets in his latest mock draft.

“Maybe the Nets will shock again this year [after taking Egor Demin eighth overall in 2025]. Multiple league sources have connected Brooklyn to Michigan center Aday Mara and Tennessee freshman forward Nate Ament. But in this mock, we’re sticking with the best guard available,” O’Connor wrote. “Wagler showed up at Illinois with no expectations of becoming a one-and-done. But he quickly became the orchestrator of a high-powered Illinois offense with his high-IQ playmaking and crafty scoring. Then he scored 46 at Purdue against a top-ranked team in the country — the most points by any freshman in Big Ten history. He kept rolling, and led the team to an unexpected Final Four appearance. Now he’s a lottery lock, but he’s a quirky player in that he logged zero dunks. To become an NBA star, Wagler needs to overcome a lack of traditional athleticism. But the best case is that his feel for the game is enough for him to continue ascending.”

While Wagler possesses many of the traits the Nets targeted in the 2025 draft, Brooklyn has a history of targeting highly touted high school recruits. Egor Demin and Nolan Traore were both projected top-10 picks entering their pre-draft seasons before falling in rankings. Drake Powell was a five-star recruit and projected lottery pick before slipping to No. 22. Dariq Whitehead was the No. 2 player in the Class of 2022 before the Nets selected him at No. 22 in the 2023 draft.

Meanwhile, Wagler was a three-star recruit with only two high-major offers (Illinois and Minnesota). Still, his production on the biggest stage as a freshman was undeniable. His positional size would allow him to play alongside point guards Nolan Traore or Ben Saraf in Brooklyn’s backcourt.

Wagler has been a popular pick for the Clippers at No. 5 in mock drafts, given their need for size in the backcourt alongside Darius Garland. ClutchPoints (Brett Siegel), ESPN (Jeremy Woo), The Athletic (Sam Vecenie), The Ringer (Danny Chau) and CBS Sports (Cameron Salerno) all predicted Wagler to the Clippers in their latest projections.

The post Analyst predicts Nets’ most likely pick at No. 6 in 2026 NBA Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints.