The Nets, who control the sixth overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, have tried to package that selection with future first-rounders to move into the top four, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

As evidenced by the fact that no deal has come to fruition, Brooklyn hasn’t had any luck on that front to this point. That seems unlikely to change, given the perceived tiers and strength of the top four prospects.

Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) continues to hear the Nets are fans of Nate Ament, who’s considered a more logical pick if the team moved back a few spots rather than up.

Here are some more rumors on the draft, with the first round set for Tuesday at 7:00 pm CT:

• The Mavericks have shown a willingness to move both up and particularly down in the draft, Fischer reports. Dallas and Brayden Burries have “mutual interest” if he’s still available at No. 9, but Fischer suggests the team could be even more open to moving down in the draft order if the Arizona guard is off the board.
• As for who might be interested in acquiring the ninth pick, Fischer points to the Pelicans (no first-round pick) and Grizzlies (No. 16) as teams with a desire to move up. Memphis also controls the third pick, Fischer notes, and has a long history of being active in the first round under president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman.
• Washington big man Hannes Steinbach has worked out for the Mavericks and could be a target if the team finds a suitable deal to move down, according to Fischer, whose sources say Dallas is also motivated to move up from No. 30.
• While Fischer hears the Hawks would view Dailyn Swain as an appealing choice if he’s available with the 23rd pick, that appears unlikely to happen, as he’s expected to be selected before that spot. Atlanta is expected to field interest in its second first-round pick (it also controls No. 8) in the lead-up to the draft, Fischer adds, and has signaled a willingness to move the selection for future draft assets.