Brooklyn Nets: What Trades Should They Consider At The Deadline?

What trades should the Brooklyn Nets consider making before the NBA Trade Deadline?

The Brooklyn Nets are in a tough position. They are the worst team in the NBA by a wide margin with a 9-47 record; the next worst record belongs to the Phoenix Suns, who are 8.5 games clear of Brooklyn with a record of 19-39.

The one thing the Suns, and plenty of other teams near the bottom of the standings have that the Nets don’t is their 2017 first round draft pick. The Nets pick will more than likely be heading to the Boston Celtics, who have the right to swap first round picks from a previous trade. That hampers the Nets rebuild, as they will not be rewarded in any way for the poor season they are putting together.

One way for the Nets to add assets would be to make some trades. The Nets do not have many future assets, but they have some players on the team that could fetch decent hauls. Over at ESPN, NBA Insides Bradford Doolittle, and Jeremias Engelmann discussed deals that teams should make prior to the deadline.

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Both said that the Nets should consider making a deal involving center Brook Lopez. Lopez is easily the Nets best player and attractive trade piece. He would net the best return package, which could help the Nets jump start their rebuild.

Here is what Doolittle and Englemann had to say about potentially trading Lopez.

"Doolittle – With Lopez reinventing himself as a 3-point-shooting, shot-blocking unicorn — he had six 3s and eight blocks last night, which had never happened before — the Nets should trade him right now. Or at least as soon as someone is willing to send back any kind of potential lottery pick and, maybe, a young veteran.Englemann – If the team were a bit better, I’d probably suggest dealing Lopez and Trevor Booker to desperate teams for draft picks. Given that the Nets are already the worst NBA team, one has to wonder whether any fans would make the trip to Barclays Center to see the team get blown out by 20 points instead of “just” nine, which is approximately their current average point differential.Instead, dealing them for young players with potential — so the fans have something to be excited about — might be the way to go"

It seems like it is a matter of when, not if, the Nets will part ways with Lopez. He does not really fit into their rebuild timeline, as he is set to hit the free agent market following the 2017-18 season. Handing a long-term deal to a player who will be 30 at the time is not conducive to a rebuild.

While trading away Lopez would make the Nets almost unwatchable, it is a move that will have to happen sooner or later. The longer the Nets wait, the less value they will return.

Lopez has a lengthy injury history, but he is also under contract for only one more season. A team will surrender fewer assets in a trade if they will have to hand out a big-money deal just to keep the player after one season.

The Nets lack a player that looks to have star potential. The only way to land one would be to acquire more draft picks to try and land that type of player. Not having their own pick, which is basically a lock to be in the top-four, hurts. But the team can add more draft picks by trading some of their veterans.

Next: Brooklyn Nets: 5 Trade Destinations For Brook Lopez

In addition to Lopez and Trevor Booker, the Nets could consider moving Bojan Bogdanovic, an impending free agent. Seeing what they could get for someone such as Rondae Hollis-Jefferson may not be a bad idea either. He plays the same position as Caris LeVert, and LeVert looks to have a higher ceiling.

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