Ziaire Williams returning to Nets on two-year, $12 million deal in NBA free agency
On the first day of free agency, the Nets agreed to a deal to retain Ziaire Williams.
Brooklyn had opted not to tender Williams a qualifying offer by Sunday’s deadline, making him an unrestricted free agent able to sign with any other team. But the Nets will bring him back on a team-friendly deal of two years and $12 million, with the second year a team option.
The deal was first reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Post.
Williams — who was acquired from Memphis as a salary dump, and was essentially a piece of the Mikal Bridges trade — averaged 10 points and 4.3 rebounds in 63 appearances last season.
A defensive-minded forward, a qualifying offer for Williams would have been $8.35 million.
The Nets likely feared that Williams would have immediately accepted the qualifying offer, so eschewed it and dealt with the 23-year-old briefly being a flight risk. But the gamble paid off, and they got him back on a cheaper deal.
Brooklyn is taking a similar approach with backup center Day’Ron Sharpe, who they also did not extend a qualifying offer.
The Nets are actively negotiating with the unrestricted free agent in an effort to bring him back as well.