Ziaire Williams returning to Nets on two-year, $12 million deal in NBA free agency

On the first day of free agency, the Nets agreed to a deal to retain Ziaire Williams.

Brooklyn had opted not to tender Williams a qualifying offer by Sunday’s deadline, making him an unrestricted free agent able to sign with any other team. But the Nets will bring him back on a team-friendly deal of two years and $12 million, with the second year a team option.

The deal was first reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Post.

Williams — who was acquired from Memphis as a salary dump, and was essentially a piece of the Mikal Bridges trade — averaged 10 points and 4.3 rebounds in 63 appearances last season.


The Nets have agreed to retain Ziaire Williams.
The Nets have agreed to retain Ziaire Williams. NBAE via Getty Images

A defensive-minded forward, a qualifying offer for Williams would have been $8.35 million.


Ziaire Williams
The deal is worth $12 million for two years. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

The Nets likely feared that Williams would have immediately accepted the qualifying offer, so eschewed it and dealt with the 23-year-old briefly being a flight risk. But the gamble paid off, and they got him back on a cheaper deal.

Brooklyn is taking a similar approach with backup center Day’Ron Sharpe, who they also did not extend a qualifying offer.

The Nets are actively negotiating with the unrestricted free agent in an effort to bring him back as well.

You May Also Like

Monday's Final Word

Closing the tabs … Calling for deaths of Jews is now…

Country singer Gavin Adcock trashes Beyoncé and her ‘Cowboy Carter’ album: ‘That s— ain’t country music’

It’s a real-life hoedown. Country music star Gavin Adcock, 26, recently targeted…

Why Anthony Albanese’s radical plan for super will hit FIVE MILLION Aussies – not just 80,000 people Labor claims

Anthony Albanese’s plan to impose a new tax on super balances above…

Pride Founder Who Repeatedly Attacked J.K. Rowling Online Gets 30 Years in Prison

Stephen Ireland was the co-founder a Surrey Pride, a pro LGBT…