Elite perimeter defense and sharpshooting efficiency could secure roster spots for two emerging standouts in Brooklyn.
The Brooklyn Nets have too much talent on the roster and too few spots to give them valuable rotation minutes, creating interesting battles in training camp.
ClutchPoints' Erik Slater and NetsDaily's Lucas Kaplan analyzed which players can carve out roles in Brooklyn's rotation on Thursday's episode of "Locked On Nets."
Slater believes Josh Minott and Keon Ellis are locks because of their shooting and defense. The Nets tied with the Sacramento Kings for last in three-point percentage (34%) and were an average defense, allowing the 17th-most points per game (115.9).
"They'll jack the threes up, and I feel like they could probably hit them at a better rate than some of these other Nets young guys," Slater said.
Minott shot 39.5% from three on 4.8 attempts across 16 games after the Boston Celtics traded him. His elite marksmanship fueled two 20-plus-point performances against the Atlanta Hawks (March 12) and crosstown rival New York Knicks (March 20).
He showed the quick release on his jumper that makes him reliable in catch-and-shoot scenarios. Brooklyn's playmakers found him wide open on the wings or corners when Atlanta's defense collapsed on drives.
The organization views Minott highly, as general manager Sean Marks praised him in his exit interview. Marks said he was impressed with the 23-year-old, who was averaging 10.8 points while nursing an ankle injury.
Brooklyn invested in Minott this offseason, signing him to a two-year, $9 million contract.
Ellis brings similar shooting and defensive prowess at guard, while Minott is a wing. The 26-year-old is likely the Nets' best option as a point-of-attack defender off the bench.
He finished in the 90th percentile range in multiple defensive stats per 100 possessions, suggesting he's an elite disruptor. His 2.7 steals rank 93rd, 1.5 blocks rank 95th, 6.4 deflections rank 96th, 1.6 turnovers forced rank 96th and his stop percentage ranks 98th.
Those stats make him fit to guard the best perimeter players nightly. He'll face an early challenge in Brooklyn's home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, his former team, as he could be the primary defender on Donovan Mitchell or James Harden.
Ellis is also playing under a familiar face in coach Jordi Fernández. The two built a relationship in Sacramento from 2022 to 2024 when the team signed Ellis as an undrafted rookie, and Fernández served as associate head coach.
The Nets need more floor spacing to become an efficient offense, finishing last in points per game (105.9). They also aim to build on their December run when they had the No. 1 defensive rating.
Minott and Ellis are the two players who check those boxes for a young team with the mindset of competing and winning games next season.
