Now that the 2025 NBA Draft has come and gone and the dust has settled for all the teams and their new rookies, franchises across the league have turned their focus to free agency. While players can't sign deals with new squads until 6 P.M. Eastern Time on June 30, teams have been busy negotiating with their own eligible free agents.
For example, the New Orleans Pelicans made some waves with their recent roster decisions. Ahead of the official start of free agency, they elected to decline their team options for both Elfrid Payton and Brandon Boston Jr., both of whom played well in spurts for the shorthanded Pels last season.
Opting against picking up those two contracts could be a significant indicator for new President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars's vision for this team moving forward. These may seem like shortsighted, cost-cutting moves on the surface, but New Orleans' choices in the draft showed that Dumars is serious about competing sooner rather than later and is willing to be aggressive to carry out his plans. If Dumars and the Pelicans want to make another shrewd and ambitious move, a new free agent just became available that could significantly increase their playoff hopes for next season.
Pelicans should be extremely interested in unrestricted free agent Day'Ron Sharpe
According to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, the Brooklyn Nets chose not to extend Day'Ron Sharpe his qualifying offer of $5.98 million, which means he'll be an unrestricted free agent. Had they given him the offer, Sharpe would've become a restricted free agent for Brooklyn, which would have allowed them to match any contract he would have signed on the open market and retain him.
Clearly, the Nets don't have Sharpe in their future plans, but the New Orleans Pelicans should. In his first four NBA seasons, he's proven to be one of the most impactful energy bigs in the entire league. While he hasn't shown the capacity to be a full-time defensive anchor, the Pelicans could certainly use his size and effort off their bench. For his career, Sharpe is averaging over six offensive rebounds per 36 minutes, which perfectly illustrates the relentless activity he brings to the court and just how much damage he can do in short stints.
New Orleans may have Yves Missi and Derik Queen on the roster now, but neither of those players has the bulk to withstand a true back-to-the-basket center, and both of them could also moonlight as power forwards. There's a chance that Queen's best spot in the NBA might actually be at the four.
Using their midlevel exception to sign Day'Ron Sharpe in free agency would give the Pelicans better center depth than they've had in a long time, as well as solid insurance for Missi and Zion Williamson. If Z were to miss extended time at any point next year, Missi or Queen could take on more minutes at the four, leaving a gap at center for Sharpe. Acquiring Sharpe would also allow the Pelicans to shop Yves Missi in trades, if they wanted to add another asset to their war chest. Between his size, energy, and ridiculous rebounding numbers, Day'Ron Sharpe simply fills too many holes for New Orleans for them not to go after him on the open market.