Why would both team do this?

For the Hornets, this trade is about acquiring young talent with upside and a future draft asset. Day’Ron Sharpe provides Charlotte with a low-cost, athletic frontcourt piece who can protect the rim, rebound, and offer energy in limited minutes. Adding the 2028 first-round pick (with the swap right going to Brooklyn) gives the Hornets flexibility to build through the draft or use it as trade currency down the line. Essentially, this is a move to restock the cupboard with both immediate rotational help and long-term upside, signaling a continued focus on developing their young core and accumulating assets.

In addition to shoring up short-term rotations with Liam McNeeley and Grant Williams, the Nets are clearly looking at the bigger picture: maximizing their chances for a high draft pick in the future. By moving Day’Ron Sharpe and the 2028 first-round pick (while retaining the right to swap), Brooklyn gains flexibility to position themselves for a lottery-heavy season. The trade balances their roster—they get players who can contribute immediately without blocking younger talent—while strategically setting up a deeper rebuild or a draft-day windfall. Essentially, the Nets are using this move as both a small-term stabilizer and a long-term tanking tool to improve their draft positioning, signaling that the front office is committed to controlling their own futur