Potential Nets 2026 NBA Draft pick Tarris Reed Jr. talks possible role

CHICAGO -- The Brooklyn Nets will draw most of their attention in the 2026 NBA Draft from who they choose with the No. 6 overall pick when the draft starts on Jun. 23. While Brooklyn's first-round pick will get the most headlines, the second round is where some teams can separate themselves from the others and one guy is looking to do what is asked of him at the next level.

"I feel like whatever the role may bring. I'm a big body, I'm physical. I set good screens, good passer on the perimeter, I rebound, I defend, I can switch, I move my feet really well," UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. said when asked by Nets Wire what he sees his role being at the NBA level. Reed was one of the players who spoke at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago this week and he was looking to boost his stock as much as possible.

"So those things, whatever team that fits best with in the NBA, I could definitely find my little knack, my little areas where definitely going forward can impact the team," Reed continued before mentioning a current Nets player that he draws some inspiration from. "I like Day'Ron Sharpe's game a lot. We're the same height, same weight. I just like his game because he's physical and can play outside and inside.

Reed, who officially measured at 6-foot-9 and nearly 264 pounds, is seen by many as a guy expected to be taken somewhere in the late first-round to early second-round, depending on which teams are looking for bigs later in the draft. Reed is coming off the best season of his college career as he averaged 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 60.7% from the field and 61.7% from the free-throw line for the Huskies in his senior year.

The Nets have the No. 33 and No. 43 picks in the second round of the draft and with the aforementioned Sharpe having a team option worth $6.25 million for next season, Reed could potentially be an option for Brooklyn. "His combination of strength, paint touch, passing and rim protection should put him in first-round conversations for teams that want bigs," Jonathan Wasserman wrote of Reed in his latest mock draft for Bleacher Report.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Potential Nets 2026 NBA Draft pick Tarris Reed Jr. talks possible role