Nets Bolster Future Talent
Brooklyn Nets Secure Future Depth, Re-Signing Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott
Key Points
Sharpe posted efficient shooting last season, with 60.1% from the field and 67.8% from the free-throw line, highlighting his finishing ability as a big man off the bench.
Brooklyn’s move to trade Nic Claxton in a three-team deal brought Julius Randle to the Nets, which clears a path for Sharpe to start at center next season.
Minott showed a strong 3-point profile in 2024-25, shooting 41.8% from three on 9.2 attempts per 100 possessions across 49 appearances with the Celtics and Nets.
Minott brings defensive versatility with a seven-foot wingspan, using it to pressure ball-handlers and disrupt passing lanes for Brooklyn.
The Brooklyn Nets re-signed center Day'Ron Sharpe to a two-year, $20 million deal and forward Josh Minott to a two-year, $9 million deal on June 29, 2026, locking up two of their most productive young players just hours after free agency opened, according to Nets Wire and Nets Daily.
Both contracts include a team option in year two. The Nets first declined the cheaper existing options on each player before negotiating fresh multi-year deals — a move designed to lock them in long-term while keeping costs controlled, Clutch Points reported.
Sharpe Steps Into the Starting Role Claxton Left Behind
Day'Ron Sharpe is set to become Brooklyn's starting center next season. That path opened up after the Nets traded Nic Claxton to Detroit in a three-team deadline deal that brought Julius Randle to Brooklyn, according to Nets Daily. Sharpe averaged 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists last season off the bench.
His shooting numbers stood out for a big man. Sharpe hit 60.1% of his field goal attempts and 67.8% of his free throws in 2025-26. Analysts noted his improved post footwork as a key reason for that efficiency. Sharpe said in a statement: "Brooklyn is home, and I'm ready to lead from the paint."
Minott's Shooting and Defense Made Him Too Valuable to Lose
Josh Minott arrived in Brooklyn at the February trade deadline and wasted no time making an impression. In 16 games with the Nets, he averaged 10.8 points and shot 41.8% from three on 9.2 attempts per 100 possessions, according to Nets Wire. Those numbers made him one of the league's most cost-effective wing options.
Minott's seven-foot wingspan gives him rare defensive range. He can guard multiple positions, pressure ball-handlers, and disrupt passing lanes. He led the Nets in deflections per 36 minutes during the final month of the season. That combination of shooting and defense — known as "3-and-D" — is exactly what Brooklyn's coaching staff wanted to keep.
Nets Decline Options First, Then Lock Players In Cheaper
The Nets' front office used a calculated two-step approach. They declined Sharpe's $6.25 million team option and Minott's existing option on June 22, according to Clutch Points. That move allowed them to immediately negotiate new multi-year deals at rates they controlled — rather than paying a single-year option and losing the players to open-market bidding.
General Manager Sean Marks explained the strategy plainly. "By securing them now, we maintain our flexibility while rewarding internal growth," he said in an official team statement. The Nets entered free agency with roughly $40 million in cap space. After the two signings, they have about $25.5 million remaining to add more pieces.
Brooklyn Still Has Cap Space to Chase Ziaire Williams
The Nets are not done reshaping their roster. With $25 million-plus still available, Brooklyn is weighing other free agents — including wing Ziaire Williams — to round out their rotation for the 2026-27 season. Both the Sharpe and Minott deals carry team options in year two, which also gives the Nets tradable contracts if they want to make a bigger move by the 2027 deadline.
The strategy mirrors what the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets have done in recent years — retain young players at below-market rates before they hit unrestricted free agency and their value explodes. With Julius Randle now anchoring the offense, Brooklyn's front office is betting Sharpe and Minott can build the foundation around him, according to Nets Daily.
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