Official: Nets sign Moses Brown after declining to extend Nerlens Noel

The Brooklyn Nets are filling their open roster spot with a local product, 7’2’ Moses Brown. The spot became open after Brooklyn decided not to give Nerlens Noel a second 10-day deal. Brooklyn made Brown’s signing official with an announcement Friday morning that Brown will be on 10-day contract.

Shams Charania was first with the news early Thursday morning.

Mike Scotto of Hoopshype later reported the deal is a 10-day as was Noel’s deal.

Brown will presumably have to sign a standard deal before playoff rosters are set on April 10 in order for him to participate in the post-season.

The move suggests that after going for veteran help in Noel, the Nets are looking more towards development with Brown who is 23, five years younger than Noel. It also suggests the Nets aren’t willing to head toward the post-season with only the lightly used Day’Ron Sharpe to back up Nic Claxton. As our analytics guy, ProfessorB, noted after word of the signing...

Brown (7’2”/245, 23 years old) in 2021-23 (633 minutes in DAL, CLE, LAC): 25.5 points, 21.5 rebs, 7.2 fouls per 100 possessions, true shooting .610 (and .668 from 0-3 feet).

Sharpe (6’11”/265, 21 years old) in 2021-23 (793 minutes): 21.2 points, 18.2 rebs, 8.1 fouls per 100 possessions, true shooting .574 (and .636 from 0-3 feet).

Brown is certainly further along than Sharpe right now. He may or may not be a better long-term bet. For those who crave offensive versatility—in four years, he’s attempted two shots from beyond 10 feet.

This is Brown’s third NBA team in a month. He was released by the Clippers on February 17. He had hit the 50-game maximum on his two-way deal, so Brown and the Clippers mutually agreed to part ways. The UCLA product was then signed to a second two-way deal by the Knicks on March 8, but was waived four days later. New York, faced with the need for a back-up point guard after Jalen Brunson’s injury, chose to sign Trevor Keels rather than keep Brown. Brown did not play for the Knicks but did get into one G League game with the Westchester Knicks, scoring 18 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in 31 minutes last Saturday. Yossi Gozlan of Hoopshype tells NetsDaily that although he was signed to a two-way deal with the Knicks then released after the buyout deadline of March 1, he should be able to play since his contract with New York was a two-way deal rather than a standard contract.

Brown attended Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, arriving as a 6’8” freshman. He was promoted to varsity in his second year, and flourished after growing six inches and adding 100 pounds In his junior year, when he and Cole Anthony, now with the Orlando Magic, led Molloy to the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) finals, where they were upset by Cardinal Hayes. A high school All-American, Brown was recruited by UCLA where he teamed with Jaylen Hands who the Nets drafted in 2019.

At 7’2” with a 7’4” wingspan, Brown is more of a defensive presence, a rim protector and rebounder. Undrafted out of UCLA in 2019, he signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Trail Blazers where he played one season. He has bounced around since then, playing for the Thunder, Magic, Cavaliers, Mavericks and Clippers. His best year came with OKC in 2020-21 when he appeared in 43 games, including 32 starts, and averaged 8.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.1. blocks in 21 minutes a game.

Perhaps his best game came a year ago at Madison Square Garden when he scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds vs. the Knicks...

This season, he played in 34 games, averaging 4.6 points, 4.1 rebounds in eight minutes over 34 games.

• Nets Signing Moses Brown - RealGM
• Report: Nets making move to replace Nerlens Noel - Erik Slater - Clutch Points