The Brooklyn Nets got strong marks for two of their offseason moves, and both came with the same grade: A-.
ESPN’s Zach Kram liked the value Brooklyn found in Keon Ellis and Day’Ron Sharpe, seeing both deals as smart additions for a team still working through its rebuild without giving up future flexibility. Ellis signed a two-year, $18 million contract, while Sharpe came back on a two-year, $20 million deal that the Nets viewed as a better play than simply picking up his $6.25 million team option for this season.
Ellis is the newer face in the mix, and Brooklyn is banking on what he can do on the defensive end. The 26-year-old split the 2025-26 season between the Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers after his offense dipped, but he still brings real upside as a perimeter stopper.
He first made noise in 2024-25 by averaging 1.5 steals per game and hitting 43% of his threes. That number slid to 36% last season, which helped lead to fewer minutes before he was shipped to Cleveland.
Even with that drop-off, the Nets are taking a swing on the tools. Ellis has played fewer than 5,000 NBA minutes despite being 26, which makes him an intriguing developmental piece.
His smaller frame does limit him against bigger matchups, but Brooklyn sees him as its best guard defender right now. He profiles as a rotation piece who can bother opposing point guards, jump passing lanes, and turn defense into transition chances.
If the shot comes back closer to his 2024-25 level, the contract could end up looking like a steal.
Sharpe’s return might be even more important. The 24-year-old has become one of the league’s most productive backup centers, even though he has never averaged 20 minutes a game in a season.
His impact shows up in the numbers. Last season, Brooklyn was minus-4.3 with Sharpe on the floor and minus-12.3 when he sat, the biggest on/off gap on the roster.
He gives the Nets efficient finishing around the rim and elite work on the offensive glass. Among active players with at least 1,000 career minutes, Sharpe owns the NBA’s best career offensive rebounding rate at 18.5%. That kind of production is why Brooklyn chose to guarantee him money instead of just rolling with the option.
With Nic Claxton traded away earlier this offseason, Sharpe is expected to open training camp as the Nets’ starting center. His toughness and willingness to do the dirty work have already made him part of Brooklyn’s young core, and the bigger role could finally put his production in the spotlight. Playing next to Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. should also let him stay focused on what he does best: cleaning the glass and generating second chances.
Brooklyn’s frontcourt could still get another piece soon. Veteran center Moritz Wagner has reportedly agreed to join the Nets, though that signing is not official yet.
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