The Brooklyn Nets entered the offseason with one glaring hole, and it only got bigger after the Nic Claxton trade. With free agency just hours away, center is the spot Sean Marks has to attack, and Brooklyn has the cap room to do it.
The Nets recently locked in Day'Ron Sharpe on a two-year, $20 million deal, which sets him up to start next season. But Sharpe is also the only true center currently on the roster, so Brooklyn adding another big man feels less like a luxury and more like the next move that has to happen. With nearly $30 million in cap space, the Nets can shop in a few different lanes: a young cornerstone, a veteran presence, or a reliable frontcourt partner for Sharpe.
If Brooklyn wants to swing for the fences, Jalen Duren is the loudest name on the board. The 22-year-old just put together a breakout season, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while earning his first All-Star nod and Third Team All-NBA honors.
He even picked up Defensive Player of the Year votes. But his situation in Detroit isn’t settled.
According to The Athletic, negotiations have stalled after he was reportedly underwhelmed by the Pistons’ initial offer, and if talks don’t move, he could explore sign-and-trade possibilities. Detroit has said it wants to keep him, but Brooklyn would have a hard time ignoring a chance at a 22-year-old All-Star if the door opened even a crack.
Walker Kessler is another name that fits what the Nets need. He’s already built a reputation as one of the league’s best shot blockers and interior defenders, and at 24, he lines up with Brooklyn’s younger core.
Reports have surfaced that he’s frustrated with how the Jazz have handled his contract talks, even though Utah is still expected to try to keep him. If that situation keeps dragging, Brooklyn could poke around an offer sheet or a sign-and-trade.
A Sharpe-Kessler pairing would give the Nets two physical young centers who can protect the rim for a long time.
Mitchell Robinson is already on Brooklyn’s radar, and for good reason. When he’s healthy, he brings elite offensive rebounding, strong interior defense, and a real physical edge around the basket.
He’d help replace some of the presence Brooklyn lost when Claxton was dealt to the Bulls. The catch is obvious: Robinson’s career has been interrupted by injuries, which makes him one of the riskier options on the list.
Still, if the price is right, he’d be a sensible gamble and a strong fit next to Sharpe.
A Brook Lopez reunion would be the kind of move that gets attention immediately. The Nets’ all-time leading scorer is still an effective center because he can protect the rim and stretch the floor, even if he’s not the same player he was in his prime.
If the Clippers decline his player option, Brooklyn could bring him back on a short-term deal as a backup to Sharpe and a steadying voice for a young locker room. That would be more than nostalgia; Lopez still fills a real need as a floor-spacing rim protector.
For a different kind of fit, Sandro Mamukelashvili is worth a close look. He declined his $2.8 million player option and heads into free agency after a breakout season.
His shooting, passing, and nonstop energy could play well in Jordi Fernandez’s system, especially because he offers more offensive versatility than the average center. He wouldn’t be the flashiest addition Brooklyn could make, but he might be one of the better value plays on the market.
No matter which name the Nets circle, the mission is clear: add another center. Sharpe is in line for a bigger role, but asking him to handle the position alone would be a gamble. Brooklyn has options, and center figures to stay near the top of the team’s priorities all through free agency.
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