The Brooklyn Nets officially used the pick they got from the Nic Claxton-Julius Randle trade to select Joshua Jefferson at No. 28 in the 2026 NBA Draft. That three-team deal with the Timberwolves and Bulls went down just before draft night, and it rearranged a lot of pieces for a team that’s been stuck outside the playoffs for three straight years.
Jefferson arrives after a monster senior season at Iowa State. He averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He earned Consensus All-American Second Team honors and made the All-Big 12 First Team. He also led the Cyclones to the Sweet 16. That’s a solid resume for a 22-year-old forward who split his college years between Saint Mary’s and Iowa State.
Claxton had been floating in trade rumors for months, and the Nets finally pulled the trigger. In return they got Randle, who can score from all three levels and passes better than people give him credit for. The Nets also moved the No. 33 pick to Minnesota, while Chicago sent Mo Gueye to the Timberwolves to complete the deal. Randle isn’t a perfect fit for every system, but he can create his own shot and take some pressure off whoever ends up running the offense in Brooklyn.
Where Jefferson fits in Brooklyn’s plan
Coach Jordi Fernandez has some options here. The frontcourt currently shapes up with Randle, Michael Porter Jr. and Day’Ron Sharpe as likely starters. That leaves Jefferson competing for minutes as a wing or possibly sliding over to shooting guard if the staff wants to go bigger. He’s listed as a forward but has enough handle and vision to play on the perimeter. The Nets have not confirmed his exact role yet, but his versatility is probably what caught their eye.
Brooklyn has been rebuilding on the fly for a while now. Missing the postseason three years in a row will do that to a franchise. Randle is 30 and still in his prime, Porter Jr. is 27, and Sharpe is 25. Jefferson gives them a younger piece who can grow with whatever direction this roster heads next. The Nets are not expected to be contenders next season, but they’re gathering useful parts.
ClutchPoints’ Brett Siefel confirmed the pick on X, noting the Nets used the draft asset from the previous night’s trade. That sort of real-time reporting is pretty standard for draft night, and the deal itself was widely expected after Claxton’s name kept popping up in league circles.
Jefferson might not start day one, but he has a real chance to carve out minutes if his shooting translates. He hit 36 percent from three at Iowa State and played smart defense in the Cyclones’ zone schemes. The Nets need guys who can space the floor and make quick decisions. Jefferson fits that mold.
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