Summary
Josh Minott is a 23-year-old forward acquired from the Boston Celtics in the February 5, 2026 trade that also brought Ochai Agbaji and Hunter Tyson to Brooklyn. On a minimum-scale $2.4M deal, Minott flew under the radar while the Nets' five first-round rookies absorbed all the attention — but a NY Post feature on April 14, 2026 asked the pointed question: "Is it time to think about Josh Minott as part of the Nets' young core?" and described him as potentially "the best player of the lot" among Brooklyn's young players. That framing, if accurate, is a significant story for a rebuild built around high draft picks.
Key Insights
- Acquired from Boston (Feb 5, 2026) in a multi-player trade; waived Cam Thomas to make room
- Age 23, #00, 6'8" forward, 205 lbs — same size and position profile as Noah Clowney
- Salary: $2.4M (minimum-scale) — among the cheapest players on the roster
- NY Post (4/14/26): "In the midst of their youth movement, with all eyes focused on Brooklyn's record haul of first-round rookies, they could be overlooking the best player of the lot."
- If Minott is genuinely the best young player on the team, it challenges the narrative that expensive first-round picks are the rebuild's foundation
- No statistical breakdown available in current raw sources — confidence medium on overall assessment
Details
Acquisition
Minott came to Brooklyn on February 5, 2026 as part of a three-team trade:
- From Boston: Josh Minott
- From Toronto: Ochai Agbaji
- From Denver: Hunter Tyson
- Departed: Cam Thomas (waived), Haywood Highsmith (waived)
The trade was characterized as asset accumulation — the Nets taking on cheap young players while shedding an underperforming scorer (Thomas). Minott was largely viewed as a roster filler at the time.
The NY Post Reassessment (April 2026)
The NY Post's April 14, 2026 piece represented a meaningful reassessment. With the 2025-26 season ending at 20-62, the publication argued that the Nets' focus on first-round picks (Demin, Traore, Powell, Saraf, Wolf) may have caused them to overlook the player right in front of them. The "best player of the lot" framing, if validated, suggests Minott outperformed those rookies in meaningful ways during the second half of the season.
Physical Profile
- 6'8" forward (same frame as Clowney, slightly taller than Powell)
- 205 lbs — lean, mobile, wing-forward
- Age 23 — two years older than the 2025 first-round rookies but younger than the Nets' veterans
Related
Open Questions
- What were Minott's actual stats in Brooklyn after the February trade? (Not yet captured in raw sources)
- Does Marks view him as a core piece or depth? His $2.4M deal makes him easily waivable.
- Is the NY Post "best player of the lot" claim hyperbole or a genuine scouting read?
- Does Minott get a contract extension, or does he play out the minimum and hit restricted free agency?