Five Trades the Brooklyn Nets Can Make at the 2017 Trade Deadline

Dec 14, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) shoots over Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Sean Kilpatrick (6) during warmups before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) shoots over Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Sean Kilpatrick (6) during warmups before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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Jan 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik (3) guards Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the second quarter of the game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik (3) guards Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the second quarter of the game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Brook Lopez to the “Big Easy”

Save the best for last. The reported trade definitely is not as good as Nets fans believe the Nets can do in terms of return value for the 7-footer, but this is last because it’s the most realistic of the 5 trades mentioned.

Initial reports suggested discussions centered on the Nets receiving Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, Tim Frazier and a 2018 protected draft pick.

How about we change this up a little bit and we say the Nets have a chance to correct a little history and essentially get their 2016 draft pick back by receiving Buddy Hield. A one-for-one trade of Lopez for Hield will not work, but a deal that includes Hield, Evans and Galloway would work, numbers wise. However, the likelihood of New Orleans giving up Hield is not high. 

To this point, New Orleans has been the team most connected to Lopez. Whether or not the Pelicans and Nets can agree on trade terms by February 23 remains to be seen, but New Orleans would bolster their front court by adding Lopez, and the Nets could build for the future by acquiring assets.

Next: Top 5 Point Guards in Nets History

Whatever the Nets do at the 2017 Trade Deadline can completely change the shape and direction of the franchise. The Nets are holding not just one but two different historic losing streaks at the moment, a 16 game skid at home and a 14 game losing streak overall. And with that being the case, it may be time to make changes.