The Brooklyn Nets are heading into 2026-27 with plenty still to sort out, and the biggest defensive question may be sitting right at the rim.
Brooklyn is trying to build something new next season, with fresh faces on the roster and no incentive to tank. That puts the Nets in position to chase a surprise run in the Eastern Conference, even if the fit across the roster is still a work in progress. Jordi Fernandez wants a sturdy defensive base, but the interior could make that a difficult project.
The concern is simple: the Nets may not have anyone who can consistently erase shots at the basket. Last season, Brooklyn averaged 4.3 blocks per game, which ranked 24th in the league. And that number looks even shakier now that Nic Claxton, who led the team with 1.1 blocks per game, is gone to Chicago.
Among the players returning, Danny Wolf brings the best shot-blocking rate at 1.0 blocks per 36 minutes. After that, the drop-off is steep. Day’Ron Sharpe is set to start at center, but he averaged just 0.4 blocks per game and 0.8 per 36 minutes.
The offseason additions do not exactly change the picture. Moe Wagner had only two blocks in 427 minutes last season, while Julius Randle finished with 18 blocks in 2,610 minutes for Minnesota. Both could still matter as interior defenders, but neither projects as a true shot-swatter for Brooklyn.
That leaves the Nets without a clear rim-protecting anchor for now, and that could become an issue over the course of an 82-game season. Shot-blocking is only one part of defense, but if Brooklyn goes the full season without someone who can discourage drives in the paint, it may pay for it.
For the moment, there does not seem to be an immediate fix on the horizon. If the Nets choose to add later, either at the deadline or in the buyout market, this could be one area they target. For now, though, the lack of a shot-blocking presence stands out as one of the defining questions facing Brooklyn’s defense.
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