Brooklyn Nets 2026-27
The Brooklyn Nets went 20-62 in 2025-26 and ranked 29th in net rating and 26th in defense. The sportsbooks set their 2026-27 win total at 24.5. Our model has them at 26 wins, and our projected record, which weights the line three to one, is 25-57, the No. 15 seed in the East. The model and the line are within five wins of each other, so there's no lean.
The question
Which young guard (Traore, Saraf, or No. 6 pick Mikel Brown Jr. once his ankle allows) starts next to Egor Demin, and can Sharpe hold up as a full-time starting center?
Projected starters
Reporting confidence: low.
Bench rotation
Mikel Brown Jr. · Ben Saraf · Terance Mann · Drake Powell · Keon Ellis · Noah Clowney · Josh Minott · Danny Wolf · Moritz Wagner
Players at 1.73 or better on AQI
None. Every champion since 2001-02 had at least one. Why that matters.
Top-three salaries, 2025-26 games
Michael Porter Jr. 52; Julius Randle 79; Terance Mann 63 (78% of possible games)
Injuries
- Mikel Brown Jr. · Questionable (Rotowire Oct 12)Rolled his ankle the week before camp. Had progressed to contact work but had not played through Oct 9.
- Joshua Jefferson · Questionable (Rotowire Oct 12)Lower back stiffness; missed the first two preseason games
- Michael Porter Jr. · Day-to-dayLeft wrist soreness; ruled out Oct 9 vs PHI
- Day'Ron Sharpe · Day-to-dayLeft shoulder soreness; ruled out Oct 9 vs PHI
Rookies to watch
- Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 6): B/R projected him as a starter. His ankle has kept him out of preseason so far.
- Joshua Jefferson (No. 28): Acquired via MIN. His back has kept him out of preseason so far.
Roster and contracts
| Player | Pos | Age | 2026-27 salary | AQI | AQI season | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Porter Jr. | F | 28 | $40.9M | -1.97 | 2025-26 | |
| Julius Randle | F | 31 | $33.3M | 1.20 | 2025-26 | |
| Terance Mann | G | 29 | $15.5M | -1.20 | 2025-26 | |
| Egor Demin | G | 20 | $7.2M | -1.15 | 2025-26 | |
| Day'Ron Sharpe | C | 24 | $6.3M | -1.11 | 2025-26 | |
| Noah Clowney | F | 22 | $5.4M | -1.88 | 2025-26 | |
| Nolan Traore | G | 20 | $4.0M | -2.23 | 2025-26 | |
| Drake Powell | G | 21 | $3.5M | -2.44 | 2025-26 | |
| Ben Saraf | G | 20 | $3.0M | — | ||
| Danny Wolf | F | 22 | $2.9M | -1.89 | 2025-26 | |
| Josh Minott | F | 23 | $2.6M | — | ||
| Tyler BilodeauRookie | F | 22 | — | — | ||
| Dion BrownRookie | G | 23 | — | — | ||
| Mikel Brown Jr.Rookie | G | 20 | — | — | Day-To-Day | |
| Dain DainjaRookie | F | 24 | — | — | ||
| Keon Ellis | G | 26 | — | -0.66 | 2025-26 | |
| Joshua JeffersonRookie | F | 22 | — | — | Day-To-Day | |
| Chaney Johnson | F | 24 | — | — | ||
| Grant Nelson | F | 24 | — | — | ||
| Moritz Wagner | C | 29 | — | — |
AQI is a player's on-court net rating × usage × (true shooting ÷ 0.550): his 2025-26 number if he played 1,000 minutes, otherwise his latest 1,500-minute season. Highlighted players are at or above 1.73, the floor every champion's best player has cleared. Salaries and injury designations from ESPN as of October 13, 2026.
Common questions
What is the Brooklyn Nets win total for 2026-27?
The median win total across BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars, bet365 and BetRivers is 24.5 (BetMGM 24.5 · BetRivers 24.5 · Caesars 24.5 · DraftKings 24.5 · bet365 24.5).
How many games will the Nets win in 2026-27?
DataDunkNBA projects 25-57. The model and the line are within five wins of each other, so there's no lean.
Who is injured for the Nets?
Mikel Brown Jr.: Questionable (Rotowire Oct 12) (Rolled his ankle the week before camp. Had progressed to contact work but had not played through Oct 9.); Joshua Jefferson: Questionable (Rotowire Oct 12) (Lower back stiffness; missed the first two preseason games); Michael Porter Jr.: Day-to-day (Left wrist soreness; ruled out Oct 9 vs PHI); Day'Ron Sharpe: Day-to-day (Left shoulder soreness; ruled out Oct 9 vs PHI).
East projected standings
| Seed | Team | Line | Our record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Knicks | 52.5 | 52-30 |
| 2 | Boston Celtics | 51.5 | 52-30 |
| 3 | Detroit Pistons | 48.5 | 50-32 |
| 4 | Philadelphia 76ers | 50.5 | 48-34 |
| 5 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 48.5 | 48-34 |
| 6 | Toronto Raptors | 46.5 | 46-36 |
| 7 | Miami Heat | 46.5 | 45-37 |
| 8 | Orlando Magic | 43.5 | 43-39 |
| 9 | Atlanta Hawks | 43.5 | 43-39 |
| 10 | Charlotte Hornets | 38.5 | 40-42 |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | 43.5 | 40-42 |
| 12 | Washington Wizards | 34.5 | 32-50 |
| 13 | Chicago Bulls | 29.5 | 30-52 |
| 14 | Milwaukee Bucks | 25.5 | 27-55 |
| 15 | Brooklyn Nets | 24.5 | 25-57 |
Read the full reasoning for every team in Vegas vs. the Numbers: our 2026-27 predictions, and how the contender tests work in the four tests preview and the AQI explainer.