Nets, Michael Porter Jr. Pin Hopes on 2026 Draft

Joe Tsai is thinking long-term: "We have one (first-round) pick in 2026, and we hope to get a good pick," he said, adding "we have a very young team." After a 26–56 season and a 2025 class of five first-rounders, Brooklyn made modest moves (bringing in Michael Porter Jr., re-signing Cam Thomas) but likely won’t see immediate gains — the draft is the clear focal point. Merlin sees a franchise brewing patiently. The rookies — Egor Dëmin, Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf and Drake Powell — are potential building blocks, while Porter’s fate without Nikola Jokić will matter more than any single transaction. Tsai’s public pursuit of 2026 upside signals patience, but one pick is a small wand in a big rebuild.