Every single person that watches basketball knows that Cam Thomas can score. He can heat up super fast and light up the scoreboard on any given day. But if the Nets are serious about building something sustainable, he is not the free agent they need to prioritize.
That player is none other than Day’Ron Sharpe.
Sharpe might not fill highlight reels or stuff the stat sheet in the way other stars can, but what he brings to the table is harder to find, and not to mention harder to replace. He is coming off his best season yet where he averaged 7.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, all why playing solid defense in just around 20 minutes a night. He plays hard, rebounds like his life depends on it, and has become a sneaky-good defender in Brooklyn’s aggressive system.
There is no question that Cam Thomas is an exciting player. But he is also a one-dimensional scorer who struggles to stay consistent. He is below average defensively, does not create much for others, and at 6'3", he is undersized against most guards in the league. To put it simply, without sounding rude…when he is not scoring, he is just... there. That is not a knock on his talent, it is just not what this Brooklyn Nets team needs right now.
Sharpe, meanwhile is exactly what they should be looking for.
He does the dirty work. He sets screens, defends in space, crashes the glass, and does not need the ball to make an impact. His offensive rebounding numbers are elite, literally among the best through 192 career games. And at just 23 years old, he is just barely getting his feet wet, and still improving each day and night.
Plus, he is going to be a lot cheaper than Thomas. In a league where even average bigs can get overpaid, locking up Sharpe on a reasonable deal is smart business. He fits Brooklyn’s timeline, he has bought into the system, and he gives them a reliable frontcourt piece to build around.
Let's be honest
Brooklyn is not just one piece away from contending. They still need players who can add value in multiple ways, not just scoring. Sharpe does that. Cam Thomas does not, well at least not yet.
Re-signing Sharpe will not make the front headlines. But what it will make is the team better. And in the long run, moves like that are what win.
Do not overthink it. Keep Day’Ron Sharpe. Let Cam Thomas walk.