The Brooklyn Nets did not trade away any player at the 2026 trade deadline. After the constant rumors swirling around Michael Porter Jr. — not to mention the chaotic departures of James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant in deadlines past — it was a nice, calm week in the borough.

The Nets, however, did waive three players, including Cam Thomas. On Sunday afternoon, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Thomas would sign with the Milwaukee Bucks…

It was a deadline befitting a rebuilding team, with some minor shuffling around the margins, including two low-stakes acquisitions that hardly cost a thing. About a century after the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $100,000, the Boston Celtics sent Josh Minott to Brooklyn for the minimum $110,000 of cash considerations.

The Nets also traded for Ochai Agbaji and his expiring salary, which also earned them a 2032 second-round pick and $3.5 million in cash considerations. Both Minott and Agbaji play on the wing, low-usage off-ball guys who, at their best, hit spot-up threes while defending and filling lanes with a passion. Recall August of 2024, when the Nets took on Ziaire Williams as a salary-dump from the Memphis Grizzlies, a trade that’s worked out pretty well for Brooklyn.

Minott played 526 minutes with the Celtics this season, more than he had played in his first three seasons combined with Minnesota Timberwolves. The #45 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Minott spent plenty of time with the G League’s Iowa Wolves, until this past summer, when he signed with Boston. And to begin this season, the 23-year-old flashed real defensive and spot-up ability, though Jordan Walsh ultimately supplanted him in the rotation…

“I’d say I kind of line up perfectly with, just like, the core values here in terms of defensive pressure and, you know, just being disruptive on the defensive end,” said Minott in his introductory presser in Brooklyn. “Additionally, I feel like my shooting has come such a long way for sure. I feel like that’s something I can confidently list as one of my strengths, and I know they believe in taking the right and open shots here.”

He sounds like a Net already! Not to mention that, despite a career-best season, Minott is still a fringe-rotation player on a $2.5 million contract with a team option for next season. Making a good impression over the final two months of Brooklyn’s season could go a long way.

When asked why he felt he’d excelled in Boston, Minott said, “I’d say it was just the hunger I was playing with. That’s something I’m planning on definitely bringing here, just the hunger and desperation. I feel like that’s something that the organization will definitely value considering, like I said, their core principles of defensive, their mindset of just disruption.”

Minott was born in Florida but plays for the Jamaican national team, and some folks call him ‘why not’, not only because it fits as a personal mantra but because it’s also a reminder on how to pronounce his last name. If Minott makes his first few 3-pointers in Brooklyn, you’ll be wondering how the hell Sean Marks nabbed him for free. If he starts out cold, not so much. But the man can really defend…

Ochai Agbaji arrives with striking similarities. He was selected by the Cavaliers at #14 in the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery, then was traded to the Utah Jazz in the Donovan Mitchell deal before his debut. Then a trade to the Raptors, and finally, a trade to Brooklyn.

He had by far the best season of his career last year, mainly because he shot 39.9% from three on decent volume…he’s down to 18.5% this season, though his minutes were quite sporadic in Toronto.

“I think it’s just a matter of rhythm, really finding that rhythm,” said Agbaji in his introduction. “And, you know, the conversation with Jordi has been good, brief. Obviously, there’s been a lot going on, but briefly, he just told me he wants me here, and he wants me as a piece of this team, and sees a lot more in me, and a lot more of what I can do and what I can bring to this team.”

Fernández may be telling the truth. The Brooklyn Nets did not have to scoop up Minott or Agbaji; they did not have to duck a tax to get these guys, they didn’t have to match salaries…they just scooped ‘em up because they were available.

And Fernández did not hesitate when asked what the newest Nets could bring to the floor: “Every time you can apply ball pressure, whether it’s in the full-court or the half-court, you can create turnovers, deflections, make the other team’s offense uncomfortable, play out of position late in the clock. So, we believe those guys can do that, and I’m excited. I’m excited to watch them play.”

Minott is about 6’9” with a plus-wingspan, a wiry NBA body if there ever was one. Agbaji is a bit stockier, makes some great closeouts and loves to get physical, though there is still some juice in those legs, a welcome sight for fans of one the league’s least athletic teams…

Agbaji, 25 years old, played with Jalen Wilson at Kansas for three seasons, and they won a national championship together.

“I actually knew him before he came to Kansas,” said Agbaji. “I was one of his hosts on his on his recruiting visit, so I’ve known him for a long time now, and seen him grow and expand in his game, his career. So now, ending up with him as a teammate and as a teammate again is great. So, like I said, it just feels like even more of a home here with him and some other guys.”

Neither player checked in during Brooklyn’s blowout of the Washington Wizards, though the trades had just been finalized. It remains to be seen where Minott and Agbaji will land in Jordi Fernández’s rotation, but their next opportunity to play will come on Monday evening against the Bulls. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.