The Brooklyn Nets have renounced the free agent rights to six players as part of their offseason roster reshaping, according to Keith Smith.
The team relinquished its rights to LaMarcus Aldridge, Wilson Chandler, Mike James, De’Anthony Melton, Dennis Smith Jr., and Ziaire Williams. This procedural move clears cap holds from the books and increases Brooklyn’s financial flexibility heading into the remainder of free agency.
Despite renouncing his rights, the Nets plan to bring back forward Ziaire Williams on a two-year, $12 million contract, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. The second year of the agreement is a team option, giving Brooklyn control over the 23-year-old’s future beyond next season.
Williams played a key role for the Nets in the 2024-25 campaign after arriving from Memphis last summer. He averaged 10 points, 4.3 rebounds, and started 45 of 63 games while shooting 34.1% from three-point range. His contributions came on a rebuilding team that finished 26-56, 12th in the Eastern Conference.
By declining to extend Williams a qualifying offer, the Nets made him an unrestricted free agent and freed up $8.35 million in cap space for the 2025-26 season. That flexibility positioned Brooklyn to re-sign him on more favorable terms and maintain room for other potential additions.
Williams, drafted 10th overall in 2021 out of Stanford, has averaged 8.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 213 career games.
