inside the nets Mikel Brown Jr. has the chance to salvage the Nets’ NBA Draft hopes By Brian Lewis Published May 15, 2026, 9:45 a.m. ET Mikel Brown Jr. averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists in 21 games at Louisville. Getty Images CHICAGO — Their lottery dreams dashed, the Nets fell all the way from potentially getting the No. 3 overall pick to No. 6 — from no-brainer stars to sifting through a closely bunched quintet of guards.
Illinois’ Keaton Wagler has the shooting, and Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. has the craft and the polish. Arizona’s Brayden Burries has the height, and Houston’s Kingston Flemings has the defense and speed.
But the raw upside? The highest ceiling if he puts it all together? That just might belong to Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr., who likely has the least polish of the lot, but might have the most potential.
