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An early-January shakeup in the Brooklyn Nets coaching staff and front office signaled that the franchise is preparing for a full-scale rebuild. In an effort to tear things down and restock the roster with prospects, the club might want to consider a trade for one of their stars who’s in his prime. Brooklyn isn’t loaded with standout trade prizes, but Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young hold substantial value.
Both players are 27 years old and are enjoying highly productive seasons. And even though they inked lucrative contracts this past summer, those deals are actually reasonable deals given the NBA’s impending payroll boost (Lopez earns three years, $60 million and Young gets four years, $50 million).
Trading either star (or both) could earn the Nets a bushel of assets. The question is which teams need players like Lopez and Young? Who are some potential trade partners that should be interested in Brooklyn’s top talents?
Lopez’s Potential Suitors
Thanks to his subpar foot speed and underwhelming end-to-end athleticism, Lopez is far from an ideal big man in today’s NBA. However, there are some clubs who could use his low-post size, pick-and-pop shooting and defensive length.
Los Angeles Lakers
With some expiring contracts, a boatload of cap room next year and a desperate need for a dynamic interior scorer, the Lakers are a dark horse candidate to pursue Lopez.
L.A. can take on Lopez’s $20-plus million per-year salary and still have room to land a couple more pricey stars. Right now, the Lakers don’t have anyone with Lopez’s mix of size and skill when it comes to post scoring and pick-and-pop shooting.
Mitch Kupchak would likely need to send the Nets an expiring contract or future draft pick, and perhaps one of the Lakers’ young guards (which could be a deal-breaker). Even if the Purple and Gold aren’t the most likely club to land Lopez, don’t be surprised if they, at least, show interest in him during the next few weeks.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets are getting old at the center spot (Al Jefferson is 31 years old). And in general, their inside-the-arc attack could use more productivity and efficiency.
They take and make a lot of three-pointers, which is obviously great. But Charlotte’s offense could use a little more balance: only 65 percent of all field-goal attempts are two-pointers, and it ranks 27th in the league in field-goal percentage near the rim and in mid-range (10-16 feet). Lopez could help boost that interior attack.
Jesse Blanchard of BBallBreakdown.com suggested a package Charlotte could send to Brooklyn:
…Al Jefferson and salary filler, along with a lottery-protect first round draft pick and P.J. Hairston, would be a quality haul for Lopez.
Lopez would mesh nicely with Buzz City’s young core and could help them establish more consistency.
Houston Rockets
Clutch City’s frontcourt is a bit of a mess compared to last year. Dwight Howard’s productivity has declined, and Yahoo Sports’ Chris Mannix reported that the Rockets have shopped him recently. In addition, there are several soon-to-be free agents this summer: Donatas Motiejunas (restricted), Terrence Jones (restricted) and Josh Smith (unrestricted).
Lopez’s ability to shoot in pick-and-pop scenarios and create in the post makes him a much better sidekick to Harden than Howard ever was. He should be an attractive commodity for Houston as the deadline approaches.
Young’s Potential Suitors
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San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) defends Brooklyn Nets forward Thaddeus Young (30) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
While Lopez has the value of a primary post weapon and second overall scoring threat on a playoff-caliber team, Young is more of a do-it-all cog in a lesser role. Bobby Marks of the Vertical (and former Nets executive) explains the southpaw’s worth:
…Young has regrouped to resemble the player he was in Philadelphia a few seasons ago. The 27-year old, who is in the first year of a four-year contract, is best suited to becoming the fourth option for a quality team. A first-year salary of $11.2 million should appeal to teams looking for an athletic power forward.
Who should be interested in Young’s versatility and pursue him?
Toronto Raptors
The Raps have a decent frontcourt, but they need a little help on both ends of the floor in order to reach the next level. Key pieces Luis Scola and James Johnson are free agents this summer, and Bismack Biyombo has a player’s option for 2016-17. Toronto would be smart to seek a power forward at the deadline or in the offseason.
Young’s ability to play off the ball and work from the elbow should work smoothly with stars Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan (if he returns in 2016-17), and he’d complement Jonas Valanciunas as well. Mix in an eventually healthy DeMarre Caroll, and the Raptors would have a fearsome front line.
In addition to an expiring contract or two, Toronto could involve a couple of draft picks to pull off a trade for Young.
Houston Rockets
As previously mentioned, the Rockets’ frontcourt is hurting, and a massive overhaul might be in the cards. Houston’s once-formidable fleet of power forwards is weaker and hitting free agency this summer.
Young can face-up, post-up and play fluidly in transition. His ability to collaborate with teammates as a secondary handler and versatile defender could make him an ideal remedy for H-Town.
The Rockets have several commodities they could offer in a trade for Young. In addition to Howard, they could shop Ty Lawson, who’s 2016-17 contract is non-guaranteed, and several other soon–to-be free agents who won’t burden Brooklyn financially.
Boston Celtics
Let’s finish with the Shamrocks because they should kick the tires on both Young and Lopez.
Boston’s collection of bigs is deep, but it lacks a towering low-post scorer. For that reason, Lopez should be on their short list of trade deadline targets. Meanwhile, Young offers versatility unlike any of the Celtic’s current forwards. None of their 4-men have his combination of end-to-end agility, multifaceted scoring and off-ball prowess.
Acquiring either Lopez or Young wouldn’t be a cinch for Boston; Danny Ainge probably doesn’t want to give back many of the draft picks he pilfered from the Nets in 2013. But with a couple of expiring contracts and maybe one draft asset, the Celtics and Nets could get a deal done.
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