Brooklyn nets trade options

Brooklyn Nets need to consider trading for Jahlil Okafor.

The center position is still a big position in today’s NBA for some teams. The Brooklyn Nets could use a future upgrade in the form of Jahlil Okafor.

The Brooklyn Nets have been spoiled with the fortune of having the starting center position solidified by multiple franchise record-holder Brook Lopez the past nine seasons. After the blockbuster deal that sent Lopez to the Los Angeles Lakers for D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov the position hasn’t seen much growth thus far in the young season.

The team’s recent first round draft pick, Jarrett Allen, is still developing and could become a decent long-term plan at center. There is still a chance that he won’t exactly pan out as a great center in the league and the Nets will need results quickly, sparking the possibilities of a trade sometime this season. The addition of the offensive-minded Jahlil Okafor would fit perfectly along a Nets frontline moving forward and solve two team’s center problems.

Okafor was drafted third overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and was expected to be an immediate impact star in the NBA. He made his name after one successful season at Duke University, leading the team to a national championship as a freshman. His career has since floundered in part by poor decisions off the court and the emergence of star center Joel Embiid commanding praise and the starting center position.

Okafor brings the classic back-to-the-basket style that is actually beneficial to the Nets’ game plan. Brooklyn could use a dynamic center in the post to demand double-teams and extra attention, opening up possessions for guards like Russell and Caris LeVert to score from the outside. Okafor in three seasons is averaging an impressive 14.7 points per game with a majority of his scoring coming in limited minutes off the bench.

The lack of relevant playing time so far this season has begun to chip away at the 22-year old’s patience. He recently vented his frustrations with reporters. Per The Athletic :

“I honestly didn’t want them to pick up my option, I’ve been going through a lot since I’ve been here, so the fact that I know that at the end of the season that I’ll at least have an opportunity to play elsewhere, that’s great. Now I’m just in a position to where, how can I get on the court? That’s not happening here and I want to play.”

“I only talked about it with Bryan and he just said that he felt that if he bought me out, another team would be getting me for free, But that’s where we stand today, because he waited so long to trade me. There’s nothing else to do. I’m not playing here and at the end of this season, I’m an unrestricted free agent.”

Okafor can easily provide the offensive punch Mozgov lacks and a trade between the two franchises could solve both center concerns. Mozgov would be an adequate backup and defensive option for the 76ers, while Okafor’s scoring is a needed frontcourt addition in the Nets’ starting lineup.

This trade idea is one that can be explored before the upcoming trade deadline if the big man is still on the market, and even better, his trade value is so low right now it might not cost much to acquire his services.

GM: Nets not mulling prompt trade options.

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GM: No trade on horizon for Nets.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N. J. -- Brook Lopez is out for the remainder of the season, but general manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets plan to replace the All-Star center internally -- at least for now.

Lopez again fractured the fifth metatarsal of his surgically repaired right foot late in the fourth quarter of Friday night's 121-120 overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers when he was fouled from behind by forward Thaddeus Young and fell to the floor.

"If there's a deal out there that we feel is going to make us a better team, we'll do it regardless of tax or the future, but we're not going to panic and do a move just to make a move because we feel we have to," King said Sunday. "I still believe in this group. Brook's a big part of it, but we do have other guys, that's why we have depth."

King said no move is expected on the trade front. He does not plan to be a "seller" at this time.

The Nets are in the process of applying to the NBA for a disabled player exception. They have until Jan. 15 to do so.

The ruling would help them acquire one player via free agency or trade to replace Lopez.

"Every team that has a big guy on the sideline calls to offer their services, but we had been in discussions with a lot of teams up to this point," King said. "There's not an imminent move, we're not looking to make any imminent move trade-wise. We've got 14 other guys that can step up, but we'll continue to discuss possibilities if it can make our team better."

Lopez will meet with Dr. Christopher Ahmad and Dr. Riley Williams on Monday for further evaluation. An X-ray taken following Friday night's game -- a game in which Lopez played through the injury -- confirmed the worst. It is not a career-ending injury, King said.

"I'm disappointed for Brook," King said. "As an organization, losing a player like that hurts, but mainly for Brook Lopez. He's been through a lot. I know Brook. He's going to do everything he can to be back on the court. We've gotta let him meet with the doctors and let him figure it out from there."

Lopez, 25, was averaging career-highs in points (20.7), field-goal percentage (56.3) and free-throw percentage (81.7) at the time of the injury. He ranked seventh in the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating. The Nets (9-17) are 2-7 this season with Lopez out of the lineup.

Lopez originally fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in December of 2011 and had surgery to fix it. He had the screw that was put in his foot replaced this offseason because it had bent.

"It's been unfortunate, but the one thing I know about Brook is he'll do everything he can to get back," King said. "We're talking to a lot of different doctors, getting a lot of different opinions to make sure we're doing things right."

Lopez is in the second year of a four-year, $60 million max contract he signed in the summer of 2012.

He will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by Mirza Teletovic, Andray Blatche or Reggie Evans. Andrei Kirilenko, who has missed 22 games due to back spasms, returned to practice Sunday and King says he'll be back in the lineup "soon." The Nets also have rookie Mason Plumlee as well. Guard Jason Terry, who has missed 15 games due to a knee injury, also practiced Sunday.

The Nets, who entered the season with a $190 million payroll and high expectations, have not met them thus far.

"We haven't played well," King said. "We haven't played up to our potential; injuries aside we've gotta play better. It's on all of us as an organization to do a better job."

Point guard Deron Williams (11 games) and small forward Paul Pierce (five games) have also missed significant time due to injury. Still, the Nets find themselves just two games back in the Atlantic Division standings.

"It's crazy," King said. "You can keep saying you're only two games back and keep being two games back and at the end of the year finish two games back. We need to start playing better."

King said the biggest thing the Nets need to improve on is rebounding. They rank 28th in the league in that category.

Shooting guard Joe Johnson said he was "devastated" when he heard the news.

"It just seems it's almost like we can't a break," Johnson said. "There's always something."

Johnson expects the Nets to have to play a more "uptempo" style with Lopez out.

"I just hate it for the big fella because I know he worked so hard and prepared himself for this season," Johnson said.

Mike Mazzeo is a regular contributor to ESPNNewYork.

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Brooklyn Nets pick up options of D'Angelo Russell, two others.

The Brooklyn Nets exercised the 2018-19 contract options for D'Angelo Russell, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert on Thursday.

Russell, the No. 2 overall pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2015 NBA Draft, was acquired by the Nets in June. He averaged 15.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.4 steals last season.

The 6-foot-5 Russell increased his numbers across the board after posting averages of 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals during his rookie season.

Hollis-Jefferson, acquired in a draft-night trade after he was selected No. 23 overall by Portland in 2015, appeared in a team-high 78 games last season and averaged 8.7 points and 5.8 rebounds. The 6-7 forward averaged 7.9 points and 5.7 rebounds as a rookie.

LeVert was acquired from Indiana after the Pacers selected him with the 20th overall selection in 2016. He started 26 of 57 games last season, averaging 8.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists.

The Brooklyn Nets Trading for Eric Bledsoe is Not an Option.

The Phoenix Suns placed point guard Eric Bledsoe on the trading block. Despite losing Jeremy Lin, the Brooklyn Nets need to resist engaging in trade.

The Brooklyn Nets are down one point guard, and the Phoenix Suns are selling one for a low price. Despite his veteran stature and physical ability on the court, General Manager Sean Marks shouldn’t inquire about Eric Bledsoe.

After losing starting point guard Jeremy Lin to injury, it seems inevitable that Brooklyn will reach out to Phoenix, among other teams looking for his replacement. Nonetheless, there’s no reason to pull the trigger on this trade.

CHECK OUT the Brooklyn Nets Team Center: News, Stats, Standings.

Background.

Originally drafted with the 18th overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft, Bledsoe has seen more downs than ups in his seven-year career.

He started his career with the Los Angeles Clippers, but the point guard saw little production due to the acquisition of All-Star Chris Paul. He was later traded to the Phoenix Suns, once Paul’s place as face of the Clippers’ franchise was cemented.

Bledsoe arrived in Phoenix, and was immediately promoted to the starting five. Producing at a very high level, Bledsoe averaged 17.7 points and 5.5 assists per game his first year. Unfortunately, he dealt with a shin injury early on that forced him into missing nearly three months.

His health would continue to be a problem for the most of his Suns career, having missed 107 games over the last four years. Mostly related to an meniscus tear he suffered in 2014.

It’s hindered his transcendence into the top tier of NBA point guards, and turned his career into a question mark.

RELATED: DeMarre Carroll, Back on Track with the Brooklyn Nets.

Now, Bledsoe is ready to contend while Phoenix is not. In their first three games this season, the Suns have lost by an average of 31 points per contest. He’s watching the “back nine” of his career waste away in losing efforts for a team that simply can’t compete.

As if the rumors weren’t enough, Bledsoe made sure his team knew his intentions. Early Sunday morning, the point guard tweeted “I don’t want to be here,” prompting a meeting with the Suns front office staff Monday.

I Dont wanna be here.

The two sides have agreed to move forward towards a divorce, and the Suns have been engaged in trade talks since the meeting broke. The Brooklyn Nets aren’t a team that’s been reported as being interested, and it needs to stay that way.

Before explaining why Bledsoe isn’t a fit for the Nets, let’s first explore what Brooklyn has to offer.

Potential Trade.

The Phoenix Suns receive forward Trevor Booker and guard Sean Kilpatrick. The Brooklyn Nets receive point guard Eric Bledsoe.

Now, the Suns have made clear that they have no intentions of winning this year, despite top-NBA talent Devin Booker expecting a breakout year. Adding Booker and Kilpatrick aren’t win now acquisitions, and they’re both on expiring contracts.

Bledsoe gives the Nets a point guard presence unlike any that they have on roster, and fill’s the void left behind Lin’s injury. It would limit Russell’s production, but add another ball handler and offensive option to the mix.

Now, as decent as that sounds, why it won’t work:

PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 20: Eric Bledsoe #2 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass around Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 20, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Lakers defeated the Suns 132-130. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The D’Angelo Show Must Go On.

The Brooklyn Nets traded their franchise player of seven years (Brook Lopez) for new franchise face D’Angelo Russell this summer. While adding a veteran point guard like Bledsoe could certainly aid the young guard, it’s more likely to deter him on the road to his breakout year.

Russell has scored 33 points and dished 16 assists in his first two games without Lin, and he looks really good. He’s taken over as lead facilitator for this Nets team and emerged a true star of the show.

While Russell doesn’t necessarily need the ball in his hands to put this offense into motion, he does need access to it. Bledsoe posted a 28 percent usage rate last year with the Suns, which ranked him 29th in the league.

Russell was 10 spots behind him at 39, on a 26.7 percent usage rate.

RELATED: Brooklyn Nets: Exploring a Trade for Phoenix's Tyson Chandler.

The two aren’t going to mix well, and I know what you’re thinking. Yes, Russell was going to have to share the ball with Lin all year, but that’s different.

Lin has experience sharing the ball with a dominant facilitator. He played shooting guard next to Kemba Walker quite often in his short stint in Charlotte. Obviously Lin’s out, but that doesn’t make Bledsoe an option here.

Instead, the Nets should call on one of their backup guards, who’ve already risen to the occasion. Spencer Dinwiddie posted 16 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds in the Nets win over the Magic last Friday.

He’s certainly qualified to assist Russell in the backcourt, without necessarily taking over.

The Nets Are a LONG Way from Contending.

It was reported by Chris Haynes of ESPN that in the meeting with front office staff, Bledsoe made clear of one thing. He would prefer being traded to a team “in a winning situation.” The Brooklyn Nets, well, let’s just say they won’t be in the discussion this year.

Should they make the move on Bledsoe, he would be in a better situation than in Phoenix; that much is clear. The Nets are out to prove they’re a real basketball club this year, and will play with some spunk that the Suns seem to have lost.

Yet Bledsoe still doesn’t get what he wants, a shot at a championship. Beggars can’t be choosers, but at the same time, an unhappy point guard makes for negative chemistry. That’s the last thing Brooklyn needs in what is such a pivotal year for the franchise.

It’s also worth noting this Nets average age of 25 (without Lin), and Bledsoe is only months away from 29. He doesn’t fit the mold and direction of this team’s rebuild, which is focused on young talent.

Though a very qualified point guard, the Brooklyn Nets won’t benefit (much) from a trade for Eric Bledsoe.

His preferred career path, age, and likely hindrance to the individual success of D’Angelo Russell make this an obvious no.

The Brooklyn Nets will continue without a starting caliber point guard tonight in their rematch against the Orlando Magic. Tip-off is at 7:30 PM EST.

NEXT: Russell, Crabbe Lead Nets Victory Over Hawks, 116-104 (Highlights)

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