NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets forward Josh Minott did not spend much time with the Nets given that the team acquired during the February trade deadline earlier this season. With the Boston Celtics trying to shed more payroll with Jayson Tatum's status unknown at the time, Brooklyn was able to take advantage by getting Minott in exchange for cash and general manager Sean Marks gave his impression of the partnership.
"Just for me well, I think for me with Josh, we had followed Josh for a while. He’d been a little banged up with an ankle that he injured in Boston, so we knew he was hurt," Marks said during his exit interview when asked what stood out about Minott after the deadline. Marks made some smaller moves at the deadline, such as trading for Minott, in order to see what other young players the team could evaluate before the season concluded.
"But, to be able to take, not really a flyer, but have an opportunity to see him in your gym, things that have stood out to us, for sure: his confidence," Marks continued. "He’s got a great attitude about work, he’s really confident out there. I think the shooting is something that probably surprised me slightly. But, I look forward to seeing him healthy. He was playing on one leg with us for most of the time here, so it is nice to get that ankle taken care of."
Minott, 23, played his best brand of basketball during his time with the Nets as he averaged 10.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 49.1% from the field and 39.5% from behind the three-point line in 16 appearances. During his time with Boston in the first half of the season, Minott averaged 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest on 50.7% shooting from the floor.
Minott finished the season fifth on the team in scoring (including guard Cam Thomas who was waived at the deadline) and third in three-point percentage. Minott has a team option worth $2.5 million for the 2026-27 season so it seems like the Nets would be wise to exercise that option. With the way Marks tells it, it seems like he has a great impression of what Minott can bring to the team next season when he's healthy.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Sean Marks discusses impression of Josh Minott in limited time