Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe has been one of the better backup centers in the NBA over the past three seasons as he seems to have found his niche with the Nets. Brooklyn has relied on Sharpe for his elite rebounding skill and per-minute production, but that could be a reason that many teams would be interested in him if he became a free-agent this offseason.
“Sharpe is a big-bodied bench big, drafted by the Nets in 2021 (No. 29). In relatively short minutes (18.7), Sharpe remains a productive rebounder. His field-goal percentage has improved to a career-best 60.1 percent,” Eric Pincus wrote on Sharpe for Bleacher Report. Pincus ranked Sharpe as the 56th-best free-agent in this class if his $6.25 million team option is not exercised.
“The Nets don’t have their own first-round pick after 2026-27 and are expected to try to improve significantly after this past season’s rebuild,” Pincus continued on Sharpe. “Sharpe has an inexpensive team option. Brooklyn probably chooses to keep him rather than letting him go for nothing as a free agent. Or, the team could opt him in to trade him.”
Sharpe, 24, is coming off arguably the best season of his five-year career after averaging 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 60.1% from the field and 67.8% from the free-throw line. Sharpe has worked on his body and his game to the point that he can play for longer stretches of time and is able to show more of what he’s capable of, including from behind the three-point line.
Given that Sharpe’s team option is fairly-inexpensive for a player of his caliber, it’s likely that the Nets exercise that option so that they can have 48 minutes of solid center play with Sharpe and starter Nic Claxton. However, if Brooklyn were to change its mind on keeping Sharpe on the roster, he would be considered one of the better players on the market.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets’ Day’Ron Sharpe ranked as one of the better NBA free-agents
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
