NEW YORK — The Nets used Tuesday night to add creation and force. Wednesday was about range.
Brooklyn wrapped up its 2026 NBA draft by selecting UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau with the No. 43 overall pick in the second round, adding one of the best shooting frontcourt players in the class to a roster still young, crowded and being reshaped around a trade for Julius Randle.
Bilodeau, 22, was not in the green room when his name came off the board. His path to Brooklyn arrived later in the night, after the Nets had already made their biggest moves of the draft: selecting Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. at No. 6 and agreeing in principle to acquire the draft rights to Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson, the No. 28 pick, from the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of a trade still awaiting finalization.
The Timberwolves used the No. 33 pick Brooklyn sent out in the reported Randle deal to select Duke sharpshooter Isaiah Evans. The Nets, meanwhile, finished their draft with Bilodeau, a skilled offensive forward whose jumper gives him a workable NBA entry point.
Bilodeau averaged 17.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 ******* ists in his final season at UCLA while shooting 51.8% from the field, 46.4% from 3-point range and 87.3% from the free-throw line. He made those 3s on 4.5 attempts per game, high volume for a frontcourt player.
Brooklyn wrapped up its 2026 NBA draft by selecting UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau with the No. 43 overall pick in the second round, adding one of the best shooting frontcourt players in the class to a roster still young, crowded and being reshaped around a trade for Julius Randle.
Bilodeau, 22, was not in the green room when his name came off the board. His path to Brooklyn arrived later in the night, after the Nets had already made their biggest moves of the draft: selecting Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. at No. 6 and agreeing in principle to acquire the draft rights to Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson, the No. 28 pick, from the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of a trade still awaiting finalization.
The Timberwolves used the No. 33 pick Brooklyn sent out in the reported Randle deal to select Duke sharpshooter Isaiah Evans. The Nets, meanwhile, finished their draft with Bilodeau, a skilled offensive forward whose jumper gives him a workable NBA entry point.
Bilodeau averaged 17.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 ******* ists in his final season at UCLA while shooting 51.8% from the field, 46.4% from 3-point range and 87.3% from the free-throw line. He made those 3s on 4.5 attempts per game, high volume for a frontcourt player.
3 days ago
