Nets Could Reunite BYU Duo With Second-Round Pick. Here’s Why It Makes Sense.

The Brooklyn Nets have been getting all the attention around their No. 6 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. But they also hold the 33rd and 43rd selections, and a familiar face might be waiting for them in that range.

Richie Saunders, the 6-foot-5 wing who played alongside projected lottery pick Egor Demin at BYU, has been mentioned by multiple scouts as a realistic target for Brooklyn, according to Jake Fischer. One scout told Fischer that Saunders could end up with the Nets at No. 33 as long as he doesn’t sneak into the first round.

Saunders is one of the best shooters in this draft class. Over the last two seasons, he drilled 40.5 percent of his 11.3 three-point attempts per 100 possessions. That’s not a small sample size either. The guy can flat-out shoot it.

His game goes beyond just spotting up though. Saunders attacks closeouts with purpose and makes quick decisions with the ball. He’s not a freak athlete but he’s a smart defender who understands rotations and plays hard. That kind of feel for the game tends to translate, especially for guys who aren’t relying on raw athleticism.

The age and injury questions

Here’s the catch with Saunders. He’ll turn 25 before his rookie season starts. That makes him one of the oldest players in the draft. The Nets are in the early stages of a rebuild, so some might argue they’d be better off gambling on a younger prospect at No. 33.

Saunders also tore his ACL in February. That’s a real concern for a team that’s not exactly in win-now mode. But if he’s healthy, he has a strong case to contribute right away. And the Nets have shown a willingness to target older, more polished guys in past drafts.

What the big boards say

Seven outlets, including ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report and Yahoo Sports, have Saunders ranked at an average of 34.4 on their big boards. That lines up pretty nicely with the Nets’ pick at 33. They might not even need to trade up to get him.

Pairing Saunders with Demin in Brooklyn would give the Nets a ready-made shooting threat to put alongside the rookie ball-handlers they already brought in last year and whoever they take at No. 6. Spot-up shooting. High IQ. NBA-ready. It’s a clean fit on paper.

Whether the front office actually pulls the trigger depends on how they feel about his knee and whether they want to aim younger. But if Saunders is still on the board at 33, the Nets could do a lot worse than adding a 6-5 knockdown shooter who already has chemistry with their top pick.