​The Brooklyn Nets opened free agency by signing former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Keon Ellis on Tuesday night, earning a B+ from Bleacher Report for the move. Brooklyn handed Ellis a two-year, $18 million guaranteed contract with a mutual option after the first season. The mutual option gives both sides a chance to renegotiate next summer and would lock in the full $18 million if exercised.
Ellis is expected to bolster Brooklyn’s perimeter defense, likely serving as the Nets’ point-of-attack defender. He fits the contemporary three-and-D mold, which made him a desired target for several teams during his time with the Sacramento Kings. The Kings were reluctant to trade him until Cleveland offered an appealing package. In a three-team deal involving the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland sent De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento in exchange for Ellis and Dennis Schröder, while the Kings sent Dario Šarić and draft compensation to Chicago.
The 6-foot-4 guard appeared in 29 games for the Cavaliers, including six starts, averaging 8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.8 minutes. He converted 35.5% of his 3.7 attempts from beyond the arc. Although he logged the most minutes of his career, Ellis didn’t have the same freedom in the playoffs, averaging 7.4 minutes across 12 games for Cleveland. Now in Brooklyn, Ellis will likely compete for minutes in a deep guard rotation, but his standout trait—being a low-touch, high-effort role player—gives him a clear edge.
Bleacher Report’s NBA staff noted, “With Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle both likely to play heavy minutes, Brooklyn needed some lower-usage guards or wings who could help on defense. And Ellis certainly checks those boxes.” Slotting Ellis into Brooklyn’s lineup as a low-usage player helps tighten on-court roles, as he doesn’t need the ball to contribute meaningfully or demand high usage to be effective. His shooting makes him a valuable kick-out option for the playmakers, while his perimeter defense helps position teammates more effectively.
Signing Ellis for $18 million could prove to be a bargain for the Nets. He provides a three-and-D guard on a cost-effective contract, with about $8.8 million next season and $9.2 million in 2027-28 if the mutual option is exercised.