NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks has plenty of decisions to make this summer as the Nets look to have a better season that they did in the 2025-26 campaign. Brooklyn has assured themselves of having their first-round pick fall within the top-7 of the 2026 NBA Draft and Marks explained what the team is looking for during the pre-draft process.
"I think we always look at the best available, who’s the best available, as opposed to can you pick a guy and try and make him fit within your roster, what you already have," Marks said during his exit interview to conclude another tough rebuilding season. The Nets finished this season with a 20-62 record and while players like forward Michael Porter Jr. and center Nic Claxton are still on the roster, Brooklyn is still trying to add talent to the team.
"The good news is there’s going to be a lot of choices for us. We’ll see where the pick falls and so forth. But, I think number one, we’re looking for a competitive guy," Marks continued. "You’ve heard us all talk about having a Brooklyn grit, being a connected guy, being part of something bigger than yourself, all the old clichés that every team uses in pro sports. But for us, you’ve got to be competitive."
The Nets, like every other team currently in the Lottery, are hoping to get the first overall pick so that they can have their pick of every player in the Draft, especially someone who fits the mold of a competitor. The first tier in the upcoming draft is comprised of BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, and Duke forward Cameron Boozer, all players who appear to possess that competitiveness that Marks mentioned.
The pre-draft process, especially the NBA Draft Combine that takes place from May 10-17, will shed more light on the intangibles players have as they go through the workout and scrimmage aspects of the combine. Marks and head coach Jordi Fernandez have made it clear that they are looking for more than just talented players and now, Nets fans know that the team is also looking for a competitive spirit to pair with that talent.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Sean Marks explains what team is looking for in 2026 NBA Draft