{"id":610347,"date":"2026-02-18T21:04:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T21:04:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/610347\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T21:04:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T21:04:33","slug":"2-nets-trade-acquisitions-who-can-earn-new-contracts-during-second-half-of-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/610347\/","title":{"rendered":"2 Nets trade acquisitions who can earn new contracts during second half of season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sean Marks is looking for \u201cthe next Brooklyn Nets<\/a>\u201d as his team moves forward in its rebuild. While several familiar faces will battle to secure long-term roles during the second half of the season, two new faces \u2014 Josh Minott and Ochai Agbaji \u2014 have entered the mix.<\/p>\n

The Nets acquired Minott<\/a> and Agbaji from the Boston Celtics<\/a> and Toronto Raptors<\/a>, respectively, at the trade deadline. While the pair of salary dump acquisitions flew under the radar, Brooklyn brought both players in for a reason.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know they\u2019re very good players. That\u2019s why they\u2019re here,\u201d Jordi Fernandez said. \u201cShow me what you can bring to the group, and if you can be part of this group, you can be a future Net\u2026 Ball pressure is our first staple. Every time you can apply ball pressure \u2014 full-court or half-court \u2014 you can create turnovers and deflections and make the other team uncomfortable late in the clock. We believe those guys can do that, and I\u2019m excited to watch them play.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Nets acquired Minott as a salary dump from the Celtics<\/a>, who needed to move off his minimum contract to dip below the luxury tax. Brooklyn sent $110,000 in cash to Boston and did not receive a draft pick in exchange for taking on the forward’s contract, indicating the team sees value in his skill set.<\/p>\n

Minott has a non-guaranteed $2.58 million contract for 2026-27.<\/p>\n

Josh Minott, Ochai Agbaji auditioning for Nets after joining team at trade deadline\"Boston\u00a9 David Butler II-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Brooklyn’s intrigue in Minott shouldn’t be surprising given his performance early this season. The 23-year-old averaged<\/a> 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.8 steals in 18.5 minutes per game over his first 27 appearances before falling out of Boston’s rotation. He was highly efficient offensively during that span, shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three on 7.1 attempts per 100 possessions.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, it\u2019s about staying true to the values I\u2019ve learned over my three and a half years in the league, especially the work ethic. I\u2019ve been around some winning organizations. Understanding what we did right and what it takes to make those playoff pushes, it\u2019s about bringing that over,\u201d Minott said. \u201cDefensively, I line up with the core values here: pressure and being disruptive. My shooting has come a long way, too. I can confidently say that\u2019s a strength, and I believe in taking the right, open shots.\u201d<\/p>\n

Welcome to Brooklyn Josh Minott!<\/p>\n

Only 23 y\/o<\/p>\n

3.4 Stocks per 100 (93%tile)
5.7 Deflections p100 (93%tile)
-3.6 contest FG DIFF, -8 rim FG DIFF
Career 62% TS <\/p>\n

his .14 dunk rate and 8% Oreb rank 3rd on the Nets, 1st among non-bigs. A huge injection of athleticism pic.twitter.com\/Hb0w5KXtLK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nets Film Room (@NetsFilm) February 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

At 6-foot-8 with a seven-foot wingspan and above-average athleticism, Minott fits into the Nets’ defensive vision. His offensive development early this season turned heads across the league.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the hunger I was playing with,\u201d Minott said of his improved play with Boston. \u201cThat\u2019s something I\u2019m definitely bringing here [to Brooklyn], the hunger and desperation. I know this organization values that mindset of disruption. I saw we\u2019re near the top of the league in pickup points, so it\u2019s not just talk. I\u2019m bringing that drive and determination.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Nets received a 2032 Raptors second-round pick<\/a> in exchange for taking on Agbaji’s $6.4 million expiring contract. The 6-foot-5 guard fell out of Toronto’s rotation this season amid a career-worst shooting slump.<\/p>\n

However, he averaged 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 50\/40\/71 shooting splits across 64 appearances (45 starts) last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, it\u2019s about getting back to myself and who I know I can be,\u201d Agbaji said. \u201cThat\u2019s super important in this league, and it\u2019s what I work for and what I\u2019m trying to show again. First, my defense and the intensity I play with every single night. I\u2019m always trying to win every possession. That\u2019s who I am as a player. I know I have a lot more to show. I had a great season last year and I\u2019m trying to build on that. My time in Toronto was great, but I\u2019m looking forward to what I can do here.\u201d<\/p>\n