Why did the Nets miss the opportunity to retain the backup inside star Sharp?

According to the latest report by HoopsHype reporter Michael Scotto, sources revealed that the Brooklyn Nets decided not to provide a one-year, totaling $5.98 million qualification offer to the team's substitute inside rookie Delon Sharp, resulting in him becoming a full free agent.

In the NBA regular season this season, Sharp only participated in 58 of 82 games due to injury, averaging 18.1 minutes of playing time, averaging 7.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks. He also had 1.3 turnovers and 2.3 fouls, with a shooting percentage of 52.1%, a three-point shooting percentage of 24.4%, and a free throw shooting percentage of 75.7%. Sharp performed well this season, showing good scoring ability at the basket on the offensive end, and also had good shooting performances at mid- and long distances. His passing and support skills, as well as his coverage, frame protection and rebounding capabilities on the defensive end are worthy of recognition. Sharp is an all-round player with both offense and defense. If he is given more playing time and opportunities, he has the potential to achieve better statistics.

Sharp was born in November 2001 and is 23 years old, 206cm tall and weighs 120kg. He is the inside rookie selected by the Nets in the 29th pick in the first round of the 2021 draft. In the past few seasons, Sharp's performance has continued to improve steadily and has the ability to take responsibility on both offense and defense. In games where he gained more playing time, he performed well and had the potential to grow into an all-round inside player with both offense and defense. What is missing is sufficient trust, support, stable playing time and tactical status.

The Nets' approach is puzzling. Sharp is an ideal candidate for substitute center, and the Nets have a large salary space, so they have no obvious reason not to give Sharp a qualification offer. After Sharp enters the free market, he will inevitably attract the attention of other teams to improve their inside strength. The Nets can retain him by providing qualification quotes and matching other contracts, or at least make the most of his use of signing first and then changing. The Nets chose various players in the draft, but gave up the former first-round pick after the end. Whether this operation wasted time is questionable.