There’s been a lot of speculation about who the Nets might take among the four (or five) lead guards that will likely be picked after the Big 4 go in the first round. There’s Darius Acuff, Mikel Brown Jr., Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler, plus Brayden Burries, all between 6’2” and 6’6”, all freshmen, all of whom have fierce advocates. Then, there’s the three bigs who Nets reportedly have interest in: Nate Ament, Aday Mara and Karim Lopez.

Now, with a week to go, things are starting to sort out, as you’d expect, with Acuff and Brown starting to gain traction among the draftniks.

In our survey of ten mock drafts, Acuff gets six votes, Brown three and Wagler one. In the second round, Joshua Johnson, the 6’9” power forward for Iowa State got three and a quartet of others — Louisville guard Ryan Cornell, UConn center Tarris Reed, Houston guard Emanuel Sharp and South Florida big Izaiyah Nelson — got two votes each.

Ament’s recent boomlet didn’t produce any first round votes, although a couple of draftniks suggest that he might still get the Nets attention when Adam Silver calls the No. 6 pick (assuming that’s where they pick) on June 23 at Barclays Center.

Expect a couple of more mocks over the next week from Jeremy Woo. His latest came out Monday morning and he likes Acuff but admits the Nets have been difficult to read. No surprise there.

Brooklyn’s pick has been challenging for rival teams to project, with the Nets tied to a large group of prospects and no obvious best fit. Although Acuff doesn’t match the Nets’ preference for positional size on the perimeter, rival teams have come to view him as a serious candidate.

Acuff appears to have a very narrow draft range, with the Clippers seemingly focused elsewhere and the Nets and Kings viewed as his two primary suitors. He is coming off an excellent season at Arkansas and would immediately become their most talented shot creator. Mikel Brown Jr. is another name to watch here.

Woo sees the Clippers taking Wagler at No. 5, the Kings Brown at No. 7. He also suggests that Ament is not out of the picture in Brooklyn, although he projects the Tennessee big man at No. 10 to the Bucks.

Nate Ament’s size and skill at forward align with how the Nets have drafted in the past, and he is considered by rival teams as a possibility if they opt not to select a guard. However, he is further away from helping a team win, and there is impetus for the Nets to get better immediately, as they don’t control their own pick in 2027 and haven’t been competitive the past few seasons.

6 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshman33 – Joshua Jefferson, SF 6’9” Iowa State senior43 – Izaiyah Nelson, PF/C, 6’9” South Florida, senior

As we always note, Jonathan Wasserman did the best of the draftniks last June, getting three of the five picks right in his final mock draft. Not in the right order but who cares. In his latest mock, he likes Brown at No. 6.

He thinks the Nets will try to move up, but in the end, like Woo, thinks the choice will be the Arkansas guard.

With the No. 6 pick, you can bet on the Brooklyn Nets trying to trade into the top four. Regardless, they’ll be thinking best player available over needs wherever they pick.

They’ll most likely be looking at the top guards, with Darius Acuff Jr. the type of engine who’ll look attractive to a rebuilding team. Per sources, he’s already conducted a workout for Brooklyn.

His official measurements eased concerns, and with efficient numbers and analytics that back up the convincing tape of creation, shotmaking, decision-making and finishing craft, Acuff figures to earn real consideration from each team in the No. 4-7 range.

Also like Woo, he has the Clippers going with Wagler, but is that information out-of-date? He has Brown dropping to No. 8. Interestingly, he notes that Burries ceiling could be the Nets at No. 6.

He too likes Jefferson, the Iowa State point forward at No. 33.

Improved shooting and a new playmaking role have turned Joshua Jefferson into a complete player and believable NBA prospect. Aside from the improved three-point efficiency, his passing has really popped the most, particularly for a 6’9”, 240-pound forward. But he’s tough around the basket with strength and touch, and he’s quick and smart defensively.

6 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshman33 – Joshua Jefferson, SF 6’9” Iowa State senior43 – Otega Oweh, SG 6’4” Kentucky senior

Aran Smith keeps chugging away at NBADraft.net, traditionally the most scout-heavy of all the mocks.. He likes Brown at No. 6, projecting that the Clippers will go for Acuff at No. 5 and Ament at No. 7. His team compares Brown to C.J. McCollom and Darius Garland, similar-sized lead guards.

Brown is one of the more intriguing guard prospects in his class due to his blend of size, shot creation, and long-term offensive upside … His physical tools and scoring instincts give him clear starter-level potential if he continues to develop his efficiency and durability … NBA teams will place heavy emphasis on medical evaluations and pre-draft measurements to better understand his long-term projection…

Won Gold and named to the U18 Americas Championship All-Tournament team in 2024 and U19 World Cup in 2025.

Deeper down at No. 33, he likes Tarris Reed, UConn’s 6’11” center.

His strength, motor, and interior presence give him a pathway to earn minutes as an energy big and situational enforcer … While his lack of shooting, size limitations, and perimeter mobility cap his upside in today’s spacing-oriented NBA, his rebounding, defense, and ability to control the paint remain translatable traits …

At No. 43, Jaron Pierre fits a Nets draft profile, a high school star who fell through the cracks early on in college, then rebounded. Pierre, of course, has warts as well, starting with his age, approaching his 24th birthday.

The appeal at the pro level revolves around a relatively straightforward archetype: an athletic scoring wing capable of spacing the floor, running the lanes and providing occasional microwave scoring … Questions surrounding age, role translation, shot creation and defensive consistency temper enthusiasm

6 – Mikel Brown Jr., PG/SG 6’5” Louisville freshman33 – Tarris Reed, C 6’11”, UConn senior43 – Jaron Pierre, SG 6’6”, SMU senior

Among draftniks, Matt Hoover is long on video, but his takes are not detailed. However, he has one great advantage. His mocks are updated daily and at this point, that’s a real positive. He currently likes Acuff at No. 6 but his takes on the other three lead guards differs from the consensus, such as it is. He has Wagler at No. 5, Flemings at No. 7, Brown at No. 8, two spots ahead of Ament.

Here’s his video take on Acuff.

6 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshman33 – Tarris Reed, C 6’11”, UConn senior43 – Nick Martinelli, SG, 6’8” Northwestern

Sam Vecenie is out Monday with his annual draft guide, better described as the draft encyclopedia. He breaks things down not by teams, but by where he thinks prospects should be ranked irrespective of team fits. Probably smart

At No. 6, he likes Wagler, putting him behind Acuff (who he calls “the most polished teenaged guard to enter the league in years,”) and ahead of, in order, Kingston Flemings, Brayden Burries, Yaxel Landeborg and, surprisingly Brown, who he has at No. 10.

Vecenie openly admits his love for Wagler. (Those who like Wagler tend to love him.)

I fall in love with players such as Wagler. Players who can dribble, pass, shoot and process the game quickly are tough to pass up for me. Wagler is a terrific bet to play both on and off the ball in an era when the NBA demands those skills from its perimeter players. He drills over 38 percent of his pull-up 3s and catch-and-shoot 3s, making him a serious floor-spacing threat. His vision is superb and his handle is tight and slithery despite playing upright…

There aren’t many scenarios in which Wagler crashes out of the league and fails, because it’s hard to do so when you can shoot, pass and handle at this level.

Vecenie admits that Wagler needs to get stronger. Then there’s the issue of his athleticism. Still, Vecenie thinks whoever takes him will likely wind up with an All-Star many times over.

At No. 33, he likes Emanuel Sharp, the Houston shooting guard who’s also played international ball with the Israeli national team’s U-16 team six years ago. Vecenie thinks he could be an elite shot-maker.

Has an exceptionally quick release that allows him to fire at volume. His shot prep is superb, as he takes them off the hop and gets his feet aligned toward the rim quickly. Catches right as he lands and then gets into the shot.

6 – Keaton Wagler, PG/SG 6’6” Illinois freshman33 – Emanuel Sharp, SG 6’4” Houston senior43 – Izaiyah Nelson, C/PF 6’8” South Florida

Like Sam Vecenie, Kevin O’Connor is known for his in-depth reporting on the Draft. It was KOC who in an interview with Karim Lopez revealed that he was going up against Ament in a head-to-head at HSS Training Center. For him, like a majority of draftniks, thinks the Nets should take Acuff at No. 6 and not just because of his talent, but because of the options it could open up for Brooklyn.

There is a sense in opposing front offices that Brooklyn could trade down from this spot, whether it’s with a team trying to leap way up the board or even up just one spot in the Kings or two spots in the Hawks. Weeks ago I reported the Kings are widely believed to be targeting Acuff, so that’s in part why he’s the pick here for Brooklyn. Want your guy? Trade for him.

Acuff would make sense for the Nets anyway given the need for a face of the franchise. Acuff is not the biggest guard or the most explosive athlete, but he reads defenses like someone who’s been in the league for a decade.

He has Brown at No. 5, Wagler at No. 7, Mara at No. 8, Burries at No. 9 and Flemings at No. 10. Ament at No. 11.

In the second round, he thinks the Nets go local at No. 33 by taking Zuby Ejiofor, the St. John’s forward, but he doesn’t seem convinced that he’ll make it.

Ejiofor found success with foundational skills: motor, length, and defensive versatility. The question with Ejiofor is the fact he’s undersized for a center and his jumper is still a work in progress. But he’s developed enough to deserve a chance to figure it out in the league.

At No. 43, O’Connor, a former ND writer, likes Braden Smith, the NCAA’s all-time leader in assists … who is 5’10” and turns 23 in July, which would make him both the shortest and oldest pick in Sean Marks 10-year tenure as GM.

Here’s O’Connor’s full take:

6 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshman33 – Zuby Ejiofor, PF 6’9” St. John’s senior43 – Braden Smith, PG, 5’10” Purdue senior

Brett Siegel has been tweeting out intelligence on a daily basis. In his latest mock draft, he shares some of it, including how the Nets front office is not giving up much on their likes and dislikes. .

[M]any can’t get a firm read on the Nets and who they like over who. Brown is clearly a player Brooklyn likes, and there has been plenty of chatter about Nate Ament possibly being another option for the Nets inside the top 10. Add Acuff to the equation, and now this is a very confusing equation to try and solve regarding the Nets…

So, bottom line: the likes Brown for Brooklyn. He likes Wagler at No. 5, Acuff at No. 7, Burries at No. 8, Flemings at No. 9 and Ament at No. 10.

Word from teams who have watched Brown in workouts has been fantastic, and he is drawing serious interest from both the Clippers and Nets with the fifth and sixth picks, respectively. The Hawks and Mavs also hold interest in Brown, but he is not expected to be on the board by the time those two teams pick at the end of the top 10…

“Watching him in the gym has been incredible,” one front office executive granted anonymity to speak freely, whose team owns a top-10 pick, told ClutchPoints. “His back problems are a thing of the past, and he looks every bit like the second-best guard in this class behind Darryn (Peterson).

Interestingly, Siegel has the Nets taking a second Louisville guard, Ryan Conwell, at No. 33.

6 – Mikel Brown Jr., PG/SG 6’5” Louisville freshman33 – Ryan Conwell, PG/SG 6’2” Louisville senior43 – Emanuel Sharp, SG 6’4” Houston senior

The home team. Ricky O’Donnell does only one round in his mock, but he too liked Acuff for Brooklyn, behind Brown at No. 5 to the Clippers and ahead of, in order, Flemings, Burries, Wagler and Ament down at No. 10. Just last week, O’Donnell had Ament to the Nets at No. 6 and Acuff to the Kings at No. 7. He changed his mind.

As he wrote earlier, the Kings are quite enamored of the Arkansas guard.

The worst kept secret in the draft is that the Kings love Darius Acuff. Somehow, they are still able to land him despite falling all the way to No. 7 with the league’s fourth worst record. Acuff is a polarizing player largely because of his defensive shortcomings, but there’s no doubt he was a prime time performer at Arkansas who fills an obvious need at point guard in Sacramento.

6 – Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshman

Bryan Kalbrosky is another veteran NBA writer who annually comes up with mock drafts. His newest mock, out Monday as well, is conventional with the four guards going Nos. 5 (Wagler), 6 (Brown), 7 (Burries), 8 (Acuff) and 9 (Flemings). Ament is all the way down at No. 12, after Mara and Lopez.

He thinks the Nets are very high on Brown.

During this rebuilding chapter, the Nets would love to add a player like the talented Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., even though they drafted three point guards last season. He has already completed a second workout for Brooklyn; a person with knowledge of the situation who was unauthorized to speak publicly on the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and ranked among the freshman leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics.

Good info. Kalbrosky likes German point guard Jack Kayil, who many think could be a steal, at No 43.

6 – Mikel Brown Jr., PG/SG 6’5” Louisville freshman33 – Ryan Conwell, PG/SG 6’2” Louisville senior43 – Jack Kayil, PG 6’3” Alba Berlin 20 years old

Adam Finkelstein of CBS Sports is yet another fan of Acuff. He also understands the Nets aren’t going to be showing their hand until the last minute. He notes that Sean Marks & co. could still go in a different direction.

The Nets are another team that could turn the draft in a variety of different ways. The point guards are all in play, as too is Ament, and the potential for deals. While Acuff would provide some positional redundancies to last year’s picks, he gives them the type of alpha creator they don’t otherwise have yet. He’d also provide a more immediate impact than Ament, especially on the offensive end of the floor.

His order: Wagler at No. 5, followed by Acuff, Brown, Flemings, Burries and Ament.

In the second round, Finkelstein joins a number of draftniks in liking Joshua Johnson, the Iowa State point forward.

Brooklyn showed a clear affinity for high-feel passers in last year’s draft cycle, and Jefferson checks those boxes. He was one of the best frontcourt passers in college basketball this year, has an NBA-ready frame, and has good defensive playmaking metrics.

Finkelstein’s full take:

Darius Acuff, PG/SG 6’3” Arkansas freshmanJoshua Jefferson, SF 6’9” Iowa State seniorTyler Nickel, SG 6’7” Vanderbilt senior