Nets have work cut out for them with choice of guards at No. 6 after NBA lottery letdown By Brian Lewis Published May 12, 2026, 8:47 p.m. ET Guard Keaton Wagler works on a drill during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. NBAE via Getty Images CHICAGO — As Vince Lombardi said, hope isn’t a strategy.
And now that the Nets’ lottery hopes have gone to hell — free-falling from third to sixth in the draft — they’ll spend the rest of the draft combine here trying to find prospects to anchor their rebuild.
Getting a top 4 pick would’ve made Nets GM Sean Marks’ job easy and decision simple. Now both are a lot tougher.
Darius Acuff participates in the pro lane drill during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12. NBAE via Getty Images The Nets could look to trade up for Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer or Caleb Wilson, but success is unlikely.
