Brooklyn Nets: NBN Roundtable: Nets Trade Deadline Edition

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Jan 17, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) controls the ball against Toronto Raptors small forward Terrence Ross (31) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Should the Nets Trade Brook Lopez? Why or Why Not?

Christian Milcos: Even with the amount of goodwill that Brook Lopez has built up with the Nets community over the years, if the right offer comes along, Sean Marks must pull the trigger. It has already been reported that the asking price for the big man is two first round picks. While it appears that no team has made such an offer yet, there are several GM’s who may become desperate as the trade deadline nears to add one more piece to vault their team into contention.

A bidding war for Lopez in mid-February would be an ideal situation for the Nets. However, Brooklyn’s front office must be wary of the protections placed on these picks, if they are eventually offered. A pick that is top 20, or even lottery protected brings up some interesting concerns about the chances of finding a player as dominant as Lopez at that position. Of course, there is always the probability of finding a Jimmy Butler or Giannis Antetokounmpo level steal at post-lottery positioning in the draft. However, the Nets would certainly be taking a risk by trading their biggest asset for picks that would convey outside of the lottery.

Tyler Dencker: The question of the century it seems for the Nets. As the years go by, we continue to ask this same question – and Lopez’s trade value decreases as the Nets lose more and more games. With that being said, it would be foolish not to explore all possible options for a Lopez trade. The Nets are obviously a team preparing for the future, so keeping Lopez doesn’t really help them. So if the price is right, the Nets should absolutely trade Lopez.

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Max Prinz: I’m leaning towards no. I know the more, Hinkie-esque, Process-driven line of thinking says to trade him now for best return available, but I simply don’t think that will be worth it to the Nets at this point. Sean Marks‘ reported asking price of two first round picks might seem high, but Lopez is a damn talented player and Timofey Mozgov fetched a pair of first round picks not that long ago.

Trading Lopez for anything less than the assurance of a lottery pick in this supposedly loaded draft class feels like a bad return. There is a glut of talented big men around the league and, under the new CBA and cap situation, it doesn’t seem likely that any team will give up a lottery pick. In that case, I think Lopez provides significantly more value to the Nets than a late first round pick would. Lopez is the Brooklyn’s only consistent source of production and the Nets do not have any incentive to tank since they do not control their draft pick.

Alex Cuesta: Brook Lopez seems to have been on the trading block throughout his whole career. This time around it seems more likely to happen than ever. The question is: Would the Nets would be better off with or without him? I’ve been a big Lopez fan, but I would like to see him finally get the chance to compete for a championship. He has been a good soldier and great player for the Nets during the most trying times and the least they could do would be to find a good team to deal him to. The ideal situation would be if they could get a pick and/or a young player that has potential. He deserves a championship and I don’t see the Nets being able to give it to him anytime soon.

NBN Roundtable: Trade Deadline Edition

By Tj Porreca | Feb 1, 2017

Should the Nets Trade Brook Lopez? Why or Why Not?

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