Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 18

Nets Take Nate Ament at No. 6 as Keaton Wagler Slides to No. 9 in 2026 Mock Draft

Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 18

Nets Take Nate Ament at No. 6 as Keaton Wagler Slides to No. 9 in 2026 Mock Draft

Q: Beyond the 'Big Four,' which projected late pick has the hidden upside to become this draft's biggest star?

Jayden Quaintance looks like the best bet to become this draft’s biggest surprise star outside the Big Four. The case is simple: teams reportedly still view him as borderline lottery talent even though he is projected in the late first round, around No. 26. That gap between talent and draft slot is usually where the biggest steals emerge. His slide is tied less to skill than to health, after lingering knee issues following ACL-related problems limited him for much of last season. What makes Quaintance stand out is his defensive ceiling. Evaluators see him as one of the most versatile and disruptive defenders in the class, with the kind of mobility, size and instincts that can change games early in his career. The reporting around him suggests NBA teams are unusually confident in the tools if the medicals check out. In a class where many late picks are role-player bets, Quaintance has a clearer path to impact on a star level because elite defense can get him on the floor quickly while the rest of his game develops. Other names deserve mention. Nate Ament has major upside because of his 6-foot-10 frame, handle and shooting potential, while Mikel Brown Jr. is viewed by some as having the highest offensive upside in the next tier. Alex Karaban is a strong sleeper because of his shooting, feel and winning profile. But if the question is who has the most hidden star upside relative to where he is projected, Quaintance is the sharpest answer.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 18

Brooklyn emerges as the top-10 wild card in the latest 2026 NBA mock, with the Nets projected to use the No. 6 pick on 6-foot-10 Tennessee forward Nate Ament.
Ament is framed as a long-term upside bet rather than a polished fit: he shot 39% from the floor in a mixed freshman season, but his size and physical tools appeal to a rebuilding Nets team.
That choice creates the mock draft's first major shake-up, passing on point guards despite Brooklyn taking three last summer with its five first-round picks.
Keaton Wagler, previously viewed as a candidate for No. 5, is projected to fall to Dallas at No. 9, while the mock sends Mikel Brown Jr. to the Clippers at No. 5.
At the top, Washington is projected to open the draft with AJ Dybantsa at No. 1, ahead of Cameron Boozer to Utah at No. 2 and Darryn Peterson to Memphis at No. 3.