Nets strike $12 million deal with Day’Ron Sharpe right before NBA free agency

The Nets are set to retain Day’Ron Sharpe, agreeing to a deal on the first day of free agency to return for two years and $12 million.

The bruising center averaged 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds in just 18.1 minutes per game this past season as the backup to starter Nic Claxton.

Free agency officially begins Monday at 6 p.m.

The Nets are re-signing Day’Ron Sharpe on a two-year, $12 million contract. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

The deal — negotiated by agents Aaron Reilly and Reggie Berry — was first reported by ESPN and Hoopshype, and confirmed by The Post.

Sharpe, who would’ve had a cap hold of just over $11.9 million, was expected by many observers around the league to re-sign in Brooklyn for slightly less than that figure.

The Nets didn’t give him a qualifying offer, instead letting him hit unrestricted free agency the same way they had Ziaire Williams.

And just like with Williams, they moved swiftly to lock him up to a team-friendly pact.

The 23-year-old Sharpe is on pace to have the most rebounds per 100 possessions in NBA history (8.7).

With the value of extra possessions on display this postseason, Brooklyn was intent on retaining their free agent big man.

Day’Ron Sharpe averaged 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds in just over 18 minutes a game for the Nets this season. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

They also hope to keep restricted free agent Cam Thomas, who averaged a team-high 24.0 points in 25 games played.

The Nets still have roughly $34 million in cap space, and could push that to $40 million if needed by waiving Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin, Drew Timme and Jalen Wilson.

Brooklyn is expected to use that cap space to land assets by absorbing salary dumps, rather than signing free agents.