Sean Marks turned a 2018 salary-dump deal into a fresh draft pick eight seasons later, and the Brooklyn Nets used it on a player who fits exactly what they need.
The Nets selected UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau with the 43rd overall pick, closing out their 2026 draft haul with a 6-foot-8 shooter who brings the kind of size and spacing Brooklyn has been missing. The pick traces back to the second-rounder the Nets attached when they traded Jeremy Lin to the Atlanta Hawks, who took on the remaining $12.5 million on his contract. That pick moved through three separate trades during the season before finding its way back to general manager Sean Marks.
Bilodeau spent two seasons with the Bruins, averaging 15.5 points and 5.1 rebounds while hitting 43.2% from three-point range. Brooklyn signed its only second-round selection to a two-way deal, so he’ll likely spend much of his rookie year with the Long Island Nets in the G League.
The fit is obvious. Brooklyn finished last season tied with the Sacramento Kings for last in three-point percentage at 30%, and Bilodeau’s calling card is perimeter shooting. Still, he says he’s not looking to be boxed into one role.
"That's what I'm known for, shooting, but I think I score on all three levels," Bilodeau told YES Network."I think I'm really good at punishing switches, using my size and strength, but I also want to be seen as a good defender and rebounder as well."
Marks has made a habit of turning old draft capital into new pieces later on, and he pulled off a similar move with the Houston Rockets in the 2024 offseason. He sent four first-round picks - 2025, 2027 and two conditional 2029 selections - to Houston in exchange for 2025 and 2026 firsts, then used those assets to bring in two players who already look like part of the long-term plan.
Egor Dëmin went eighth overall last year, and Mikel Brown Jr. was taken sixth overall this year. Dëmin looked especially promising over the summer after adding muscle and becoming a more reliable downhill scorer. He put up 23 points on 8-for-15 shooting and added seven rebounds in the California Classic opener against the Kings, and even though he went 2-for-8 from outside, his rim pressure kept the night from going sideways.
Brown also arrived with a strong résumé, even if a back injury complicated the finish to his college season. He averaged 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 18 games for the Cardinals, but missed the ACC and NCAA Tournaments because of the lingering issue.
Now Bilodeau joins that group, another recycled pick turned into a young player Brooklyn can develop.
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