The Brooklyn Nets made two decisions on players that could affect their future plans. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Nets have exercised the third-year rookie scale team options on Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead.
“The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the third-year team options on Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead for the 2025-26 season, team says.”
Brooklyn Nets Exercise Third-Year Options On A Pair Youngsters And What It Means Going Forward
Clowney was a surprise first-round pick last year, as the Nets chose him with the No. 21 overall pick after one year at Alabama, where he averaged just 9.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. However, the Nets liked the 6-10 forward’s athleticism, versatility, and ability to shoot the three. He also showed the ability to move without the ball, strong rebounding ability, and some defensive potential.
Clowney got off to a late start as a rookie. The 20-year-old started the year with the Long Island Nets in the G-League. He debuted on November 27 but did not carve a regular niche until the end of March. He played the final 13 games of the season and made 23 appearances, averaging 5.8 points and 3.5 rebounds.
With Ben Simmons starting at center and injuries to Bojan Bogdanovic and Day’Ron Sharpe, Clowney has been the second big off this year. The 20-year-old has played well thus far, though he has struggled to shoot the ball.
Clowney has scored at least seven points in all three games, scoring a season-high 13 points the last time out against Milwaukee. He averages 9.0 points, 1.6 threes, and 4.0 rebounds with shooting splits of 33.3/33.3/1.000.
Clowney can play all three frontcourt positions, though he has primarily been at power forward and center this season. He can finish around the rim, but over 55% of his shot attempts (5 of 9) have been from deep this year, with the average shot distance being 15 feet.
“I think he could be very good at playing the four, very good at playing the five,” head coach Jordi Fernadez told C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News said of Clowney. “The kid can shoot, his size is multi-positional, he’s got a lot of good qualities and abilities to be successful.”
Dariq Whitehead
Whitehead was selected by the Nets one pick behind Clowney at No. 22. Like Clowney, Whitehead was a surprise first-round pick as he only played 566 minutes in his lone season at Duke.
While Clowney has earned time with the Nets, Whitehead has spent most of his pro career at Long Island. The 20-year-old wing has seen 26 minutes in three appearances, including two minutes in one game this year, with Brooklyn.
Whitehead is a slasher with some defensive acumen. However, the athletic 6-7 forward has struggled with his shot last season in the G-League and 2024 Summer League.
Whitehead was recently assigned to Long Island to get some playing time.
“Just tell him to be patient,” Jalen Wilson said of Whitehead. “You never really know when you’re going to play. I feel like that was one thing me and Noah always knew last year: just be ready. Never know. God forbid someone’s hurt or something happens, and you need to play. You just have to be ready to step up and play. So just being patient, understanding that time will always come to play.”
So, What Does Picking Up The Players’ Options Mean For The Nets?
With Brooklyn picking up Clowney and Whitehead’s options, the Nets have nine players under contract for next year. While both players receive a slight increase over their 2024-25 salaries ($3.24 million and $3.1 million) next season, the Nets payroll will increase from just $6.6 million to $77.3 million. According to Holmes, Clowney and Whitehead are seen as foundational pieces in the Nets rebuild.
“From the front office side, we’re looking at it from, ‘Who are the next Nets?’,” general manager Sean Marks said. “Who do we look at and say, OK, this person can be part of this rebuild and this person is on the team for the next two, three years.”
Brooklyn is now projecting $75 million in cap space next summer. However, Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, who own a player option, are trade candidates. The Nets also could add to next year’s players and cut into cap space if they trade Ben Simmons, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Dennis Schroder.
