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Same Song and Dance: Brook Lopez Unlikely to Move If Nets Keep Asking Price

By Charles Daye

Feb 13, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) reacts in the third quarter against Memphis Grizzlies at Barclays Center. Grizzles win 112-103. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) reacts in the third quarter against Memphis Grizzlies at Barclays Center. Grizzles win 112-103. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports /
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Have we seen Brook Lopez play his final game with the Brooklyn Nets? Or are we just going through the annual Lopez trade deadline speculation? The more things change, the more things stay the same.

Brook Lopez had an incredible game against his former head coach Jason Kidd and the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring a season-high 36 points in a tight contest. He made six threes and blocked eight shots, becoming the first NBA player to do so.  If that was “midseason tryouts,” he simultaneously earned his spot in the starting lineup and improved his trade value.

The only credible (for what it’s worth) rumored trade is with the New Orleans Pelicans, as reported by Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders. The trade would send Lopez to New Orleans for Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, Tim Frazier, and a protected 2018 first-round pick.

The Nets could undoubtedly use the first-round pick in next year’s draft. However, it is hard to believe Brooklyn is not getting the short-end of the deal. Evans could walk, while Galloway and Frazier would at-best be competing for minutes off the bench. Meanwhile, the Pelicans would have an All-Star center next to their franchise power forward, Anthony Davis.

RELATED STORY: Examining the Pelican Trade Brief For Lopez

It is no secret that the Nets want at least two first-round picks for Lopez. Sean Marks inherited a Chernobyl-like nuclear mess, and he is trying to rebuild from the fallout of the Billy King era. Brooklyn needs multiple picks, and if if not, they certainly need one good first-round pick and good quality players to part ways with their best player.

The New Orleans deal, as we know, is not ideal, but should the Nets settle for less? No, Brooklyn cannot deal Lopez just for the sake of dealing him.  Before and after the loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday, head coach Kenny Atkinson once again praised Lopez (as reported by NetsDaily’s Anthony Puccio). Lopez has been nothing but positive for the young Brooklyn core, on and off the court, and in the locker room. When the team is an abysmal 9-47, you cannot trade one of the only positive forces for nothing.

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Howard Beck of Bleacher Report and Zach Lowe of ESPN spoke on the Lowe Post Podcast about the abundance of centers available at the trade deadline this year and the unlikelihood of Brooklyn getting their asking price of two first-round picks. This is not because Lopez is not a valuable talent, but because most teams are looking for young defensive centers, more so than an offensive big man. Essentially, this provides much speculation into the direction the league is moving in.

Lopez has differentiated himself with his three-point shooting, which is at a career-high 34 percent through 51 games this season. His rebounds are at a career-low, but that is expected if he is shooting more from the outside, not to mention he has never been a strong rebounder. Lopez is also shooting 83.5 percent from the charity stripe and 47 percent from the field, averaging 20.8 points per game for the season.

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So if we read the tea leaves and try to use deductive reasoning, the Nets do not really want to trade Lopez unless they receive multiple first-round picks, and it seems unlikely they are going to receive multiple first-round picks. This might be another deadline Lopez survives.