The Nets wrapped the 2026 draft by adding UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau in the second round. The selection follows a year in which Brooklyn stocked the roster with a league-record five first-round picks, and this season’s earlier two first-rounders. Mikel Brown Jr. and Joshua Jefferson remain the faces of the draft class, and Bilodeau arrives as the only second-round addition.

Bilodeau, a 22-year-old, helped the Bruins reach the Big Ten Tournament semifinal and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In his final college season he averaged 17.6 points per game while shooting at a very efficient rate from the field and from long range. He attempted a respectable number of three-pointers each contest and connected on a solid portion of those attempts, underscoring his willingness to stretch the floor.

The forward can score at all three levels, but his greatest upside lies in floor spacing. He is comfortable pulling a defender out to the three-point line and can also finish inside when lanes open. When Brooklyn needs him to put the ball on the floor, he can do so, but the bulk of his role will likely be as a catch-and-shoot specialist.

Standing 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Bilodeau possesses defensive length but showed lapses this past season. Opponents exploited mismatches by forcing switches onto smaller, quicker guards, a scenario that did not bode well for him. Under head coach Jordi Fernandez, whose track record includes developing versatile forwards, those defensive shortcomings have room to improve with focused drills and disciplined rotations.

Brooklyn’s offensive scheme rewards spacing, and Bilodeau’s ability to pull a defender to the perimeter dovetails with the pick-and-roll actions of Brown Jr. and the interior presence of Jefferson. If his shooting translates against NBA defenses, the Nets could slot him into a bench role that provides a reliable three-point option and keeps the floor spread. The addition continues the Nets’ strategy of building a home-grown core rather than relying on veteran free-agents, and Bilodeau’s skill set gives the club a modern, stretch-forward piece to develop alongside the younger roster.

Overall, Bilodeau offers a blend of scoring versatility and length that fits the Nets’ vision for a fluid, perimeter-oriented offense. While defensive consistency will be a work-in-progress, his offensive upside provides the team with a useful tool as they continue to shape a competitive roster for the coming seasons.