Coach Jordi Fernández sees potential in Ochai Agbaji and Josh Minott, but defensive intensity will be key to earning their place on the Nets' future roster.
The Brooklyn Nets were able to sneak their way into a few deals around the trade deadline to acquire both future draft assets and interesting young players.
With the 2025-26 season still in full swing, Brooklyn's head coach Jordi Fernández has roughly 31 games to get the most out of his prospects and potential building blocks, and the franchise's deadline acquisitions could very well become part of his plans.
The Nets acquired ex-Toronto Raptor Ochai Agbaji and ex-Boston Celtic Josh Minott in two separate deals, and both of the versatile wings should be useful, thanks to their two-way potential.
Even though Fernández believes in the natural abilities of both players, there's still a level he requires his players to meet, and that's what the rest of the season will most likely be about for these two stellar athletes.
According to the New York Post's Brian Lewis, Fernández believes that both Minott and Agbaji need to earn the trust of the coaching staff through their defensive intensity.
"We know they’re very good players," Fernández told Lewis on Saturday. "That's why they're here."
But, as if he were talking to the Nets' newbies, Fernández said he has high expectations for them to earn their place on his Nets squad.
"Ball pressure is our first staple. Every time you can apply ball pressure, full-court or half-court, you can create turnovers and deflections and make the other team uncomfortable late in the clock," Fernández said. "We believe those guys can do that, and I’m excited to watch them play.”
If there's anything that both Minott and Agbaji can be relied on for moving forward, aside from their three-point shooting ability, it's their natural defensive instincts and game-changing intangibles on that end of the floor.
Minott is an athletic 6-foot-8 combo forward with long arms who can jump out of the gym, which makes him a great add for both the Nets' perimeter defense and rim-protection needs.
The fourth-year forward averaged 5.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks while shooting 44.2 percent from three-point range in 33 appearances for Boston this season before being dealt.
As for Agbaji, the slightly smaller 6-foot-5 shooting guard has all of the defensive potential in the world due in large part to his solid frame and natural athletic gifts.
Through his 42 games with the Raptors this season, the 25-year-old posted career-bests with a 116 defensive rating per 100 possessions and a -0.1 defensive box plus-minus. Those figures might not be elite just yet, but they show potential, and that's everything this iteration of the Nets runs on.
Fernández remains confident that both players could eventually become solid contributors on a nightly basis, but it'll be about the duo's ability to prove themselves defensively that earns them the right to compete for more burn.
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