The Brooklyn Nets have been through the wringer over the past several years. After patiently recovering from their disastrous Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett trade, they managed to bring in the star trio of James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant.
However, the Big 3 lasted less than two full seasons together before the franchise had to start over. As the Nets look to embrace youth and build a sustainable future, they’re assembling a solid core and have landed a potential steal of a signing on the first day of NBA free agency.
Nets Sign Ideal Guard in Keon Ellis
Keon Ellis was an undrafted free-agent signing for the Sacramento Kings in 2022. Like many other guards for the franchise, his stock continued to improve before he was traded to a better situation.
An ideal 3-and-D guard, Ellis excels at the little things, making him the perfect role player on any squad. As a result, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were looking to bolster their guard depth behind Donovan Mitchell and Harden, brought him in as a bench piece midway through this past season.
Continuing his upward trajectory, Ellis averaged 8.3 points per game in 24.8 minutes per game for Cleveland. Despite shooting 49.1% from the field as a 6-foot-4 guard, he made his living on the defensive side of the ball, adding over 2 stocks a night.
The 26-year-old later contributed in spurts to the Cavaliers’ 2026 Eastern Conference finals run. However, he was in the final year of a three-year, $5.1 million contract.
With Cleveland potentially looking at bigger fish, such as LeBron James, resources were going to be hard to come by for the rest of the roster. As a result, the Nets were able to swoop in and add a quality piece to their growing asset pool.
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania broke the news on X, detailing Ellis’ new contract.
“Free agent guard Keon Ellis has agreed to a two-year, $18 million guaranteed deal with the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN,” Charania reported.
Free agent guard Keon Ellis has agreed to a two-year, $18 million guaranteed deal with the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/YdLqrFZHhq
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026
After making five selections in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, Brooklyn added two more first-rounders this year, picking dynamic guard Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 6) and versatile, high-IQ forward Joshua Jefferson (No. 28).
Between Ellis’ addition, their incoming rookies, young pieces like 6-foot-8 floor general Egor DÑ‘min and offensive-minded veterans Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr., the Nets could be in store for a noticeable improvement from their 20-62 finish in the 2025-26 campaign.
