The Brooklyn Nets are 17-48 and firmly entrenched in the bottom tier of the Eastern Conference, but the 2026 NBA Draft has given this rebuild a clear destination.
Nets Could Potentially Draft Cameron Boozer at the 2026 NBA Draft
PFSN analyst Andrew Melnick laid out the case for Brooklyn’s ideal draft-night path: “The Brooklyn Nets can simply pick the best player available, and passing on Cameron Boozer, or perhaps rival Caleb Wilson, will be difficult, as one should be the top option left. Carlos Boozer’s son is a safe pick, with the skill to score facing up or in the post. If his three-pointer develops, he could become a perennial All-Star.”
That scouting report is grounded in one of the most dominant freshman seasons college basketball has seen in years. The 6’9, 250-pound Duke forward is averaging 22.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 58.3 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from three.
Cameron Boozer was the unanimous ACC Player of the Year and ACC Freshman of the Year, earning 84 of 86 possible votes for the conference’s top individual honor.
His three-point shooting has been a particular revelation. The 40.7 percent clip from beyond the arc directly addresses the most frequently cited concern about his game, suggesting the perimeter shooting worry may already be resolving itself at the college level.
What makes Boozer a natural fit for Brooklyn is his high-floor, high-ceiling profile. The Nets have developed a promising young backcourt in Egor Demin and Nolan Traore, but they have lacked a top-end talent capable of anchoring the franchise’s future.
Boozer’s ability to score facing up or with his back to the basket, combined with his passing and improved shooting, makes him a versatile offensive hub. He can elevate the players around him without needing to dominate the ball, which is exactly what a developing roster needs from its cornerstone.
Brooklyn currently holds a 12.5 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, set for May 10 in Chicago. Should Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa both come off the board before them, the choice would likely come down to Boozer or North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson.
Most evaluators give Boozer the edge, pointing to his scoring versatility, elite rebounding, and proven three-point shooting as the differentiating factors. For a franchise that has stayed disciplined through a painful rebuild, landing Boozer would be the payoff for all of it.
The Nets have spent years building the supporting cast. Now all they need is the centerpiece, and right now, Boozer is as close to a sure thing as this draft class has to offer.
