Nets close draft with UCLA sharpshooter Tyler Bilodeau at No. 43

C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News on Jun 24, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

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 assists 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.

At 6-foot-8-plus in shoes, 228-pounds and with a wingspan just under 7-1, Bilodeau gives Brooklyn a possible stretch-four option. He’s not an above-the-rim athlete. He doesn’t arrive as a rim protector or defensive stopper. He’ll need teammates to create clean looks for him, and his foot speed could be tested on the perimeter.

But the jumper gives him a chance. Bilodeau shot 46.4% from deep and 53% from midrange last season, numbers that explain why Brooklyn took the swing despite already having a crowded group of young players. Bigs who can space the floor at that level are hard to find, especially outside the first round.

The pick also fits the broader theme of Brooklyn’s draft. A year after using five first-round picks on players whose appeal rested partly in positional versatility, the Nets kept chasing players who can function in different lineup combinations. Brown gives them a 6-5 guard who can play on or off the ball, create off the bounce and pressure the paint. Jefferson gives them a 6-8, 246-pound forward with passing feel, physicality and frontcourt flexibility.

Bilodeau is different. He’s not as explosive as Brown or as forceful as Jefferson, but he brings a bankable NBA skill. His shooting can stretch defenses, open driving lanes and provide cleaner spacing for young guards still learning how to run NBA possessions.

That has value for a team with eight players 23 or younger as the roster currently stands. The Nets don’t need every young player to become a star but need some to grow into useful NBA pieces with skills that hold up.

Bilodeau’s shot gives him a place to start. His contract path could also reflect Brooklyn’s roster crunch. With so many young players already on guaranteed deals, Bilodeau could be a candidate for a two-way contract, depending on how the rest of the offseason unfolds.

The reported Randle deal would bring in a proven scorer while sending out Nic Claxton, leaving Brooklyn with a frontcourt hole and more roster decisions ahead. But over two draft nights, the front office added a creator in Brown, a physical connector in Jefferson and a floor-spacing forward in Bilodeau.

Brown and Jefferson carry the bigger expectations. Bilodeau arrives with a narrower lane but a valuable one.