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Brooklyn Nets Asking For Two First Round Picks For Brook Lopez

By Kenneth Teape

Dec 18, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) moves the ball upcourt during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers won the game 108-107. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) moves the ball upcourt during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers won the game 108-107. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Brooklyn Nets are asking for a lot in return for Brook Lopez, as they are hoping to land two first round picks.

The Brooklyn Nets will not be making the playoffs this season. They have already guaranteed themselves a losing record and are the last team to be with single-digit victories. They are riding a 12-game losing streak and their ineptitude will not be rewarded with a top pick; the Boston Celtics will receive their pick as a result of the trade Billy King made for Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, and D.J. White.

So why are the Nets a team to keep an eye on in the coming weeks? Because they could change the landscape of the NBA postseason without taking part. The Nets could play spoiler down the stretch, but they could also be active in the coming days as the NBA Trade Deadline approaches.

The Nets may not have a good record, but they have players that could help other teams. Free agent to be Bojan Bogdanovic could help a team on the wing off the bench. Luis Scola is a veteran that could be useful at the end of a bench. Randy Foye is also a free agent to be and could be a target for a team looking to add a veteran to their backcourt.

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Trevor Booker has played very well also. He could fetch the Nets a decent haul if they want to move him, as he is owed a manageable $9.125 million next season. But, the player to keep an eye on is Brook Lopez.

Lopez has been the focal point of the Nets attack for many seasons but could be on his way out of Brooklyn. If the Nets truly want to rebuild, they need assets to build a foundation on. The trade with the Celtics robbed them of many assets, so the only way to acquire some is via trade. Lopez could refill that cupboard rather quickly.

According to Marc Stein of ESPN, that is what the Nets are aiming for. Stein reports that the Nets have a high asking price on Lopez, as they are looking to receive two first-round picks in return.

That is a high price that many teams will not be willing to pay. The Nets are smart putting a high price tag on Lopez, as he is their best player and asset to move. Lopez is under contract through 2018, so moving him sooner than later would be beneficial for the Nets; the longer he is with them, the less of a package the Nets can expect in return.

With the direction the Nets are heading, Lopez probably does not fit into their plans. He will be 30 years old when his contract expires; that isn’t old, but a poor fit for the Nets to build around. He has had lower body injuries and will be exiting his prime, so being the player for the Nets to build around in two seasons seems unlikely.

Next: Brooklyn Nets: 5 Trade Destinations For Brook Lopez

While he may not be an ideal fit for the Nets in the future, Lopez could help a number of teams. He is a dominant player offensively in the post and has expanded his game to include three-point shooting. There are plenty of teams that would benefit from adding Lopez. The question is, will any of those teams be willing to meet the Nets current asking price?

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