Nets Center Fits With Celtics, But Path To Trade Is Tough
The Boston Celtics’ 0-3 start to the 2025-26 season has been a result of a few factors, none of which stand out more than Boston’s rebounding woes. The Celtics knew they were entering the season with a mediocre (at best) frontcourt on paper, and the first three games have only reinforced that concern. Assuming Boston wants to win games this season, snagging another big feels necessary. Enter Day’Ron Sharpe, a 23-year-old center for the Brooklyn Nets who is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. He’s also making just $6.3 million this season, music to Brad Stevens’s ears.
Despite his youth, Sharpe is already in his fifth NBA season. He was the No. 29 overall pick in the 2021 draft out of North Carolina. At 6-foot-10 with natural rebounding instincts, Sharpe has been a force on the boards since his rookie season. In 194 NBA games thus far in his career (all with the Nets), Sharpe is averaging 16.1 points and 13.9 rebounds per 36 minutes. He’s also beginning to show signs that he can grow into a stretch big on offense.
Sharpe would be perfect for the Celtics, immediately helping with their inability to control the glass. Plus, with a club option for 2026-27, he wouldn’t handcuff Boston in any way financially.
Here’s the catch, though. The only feasible Celtics trade for Sharpe would be a straight-up swap for Sam Hauser ($10 million this year), which presents complications. First of all, Boston values Hauser highly (and for good reason), which means Stevens would be looking for significant draft compensation on top of Sharpe in exchange for Hauser.
If the Nets were willing to part ways with first-round draft capital, Hauser-Sharpe talks would be advantageous for Boston. But Brooklyn — amid its rebuild — isn’t likely to budge past offering second-round draft compensation, even though Hauser would be an awesome piece for them, especially given his relatively cheap contract ($45 million over four years, starting this season).
It doesn’t seem like Stevens and Nets GM Sean Marks would be able to find middle ground on a trade involving Hauser and Sharpe.
The Celtics would be creating more cap space by swapping Hauser for Sharpe, not to mention addressing a glaring frontcourt weakness, but they’d also be losing one of the league’s best role players, which would have them demanding draft compensation that Marks wouldn’t be interested in parting with. (There’s even a chance that Marks wouldn’t be interested in giving up any draft capital, period, for Hauser — that’s how good Sharpe is.)
Who knows … maybe Brad’s stance will become more aggressive if Boston’s season and rebounding struggles get even worse between now and February.
If we get to the point where it seems like Hauser is being legitimately floated for rebounding help, remember Day’Ron Sharpe’s name. However, it’s worth mentioning that Sharpe cannot be traded until December 15.