Nets Rumors: Pacers Showing Interest in Brook Lopez

With Thursday’s NBA trade deadline approaching, the Indiana Pacers are rumored to be among the teams showing interest in acquiring Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez.

The trade market at the 2017 NBA trade deadline is unique, to say the least. When the Sacramento Kings made the shocking move to send DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans for what has widely been deemed a less than stellar return, it raised questions about the value of others on the market.

One of the players potentially on the market is Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez. The Nets and Pelicans reportedly had discussions centered around Lopez, but with the Pelicans acquiring Cousins, they are no longer in the market for Lopez. But one team that may be, is the Indiana Pacers.

Former NBA columnist Peter Vecsey reported the Pacers are among the teams trying to acquire Lopez. Vecsey also floated a potential offer: Lopez to Indiana in exchange for Al Jefferson, Rodney Stuckey, and Indiana’s 2017 first round pick.

I leave u with this: Pacers R trying 2 get Lopez. Will their 2017 No. 1, Jefferson & Stuckey satisfy BK? Can Nets get more from C's or NO?
— Peter Vecsey (@PeterVecsey1) February 20, 2017

Multiple teams which were in need of big men already made acquisitions, such as New Orleans, Portland, and Denver. However, Vecsey’s tweet mentions the Pacers and Boston Celtics.

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The Pacers, in recent days, have become willing to deal their first round pick in 2017 if it means getting help for their star, Paul George. The 2017 draft is expected to be loaded, but the Pacers are trying add additional talent alongside George.

Lopez would certainly help in Indiana, but it’s also worth noting that the Pacers have shown interest in another big man. Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reports the Pacers also have interest in Philadelphia’s Jahlil Okafor.

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Okafor, like Lopez, was also mentioned in connection with the Pelicans, before they acquired Cousins. So it’s not all that surprising that both players are once again mentioned with the same destination. They are two of the top big men on the market, and there doesn’t seem to be a large number of suitors remaining.

If the Pacers offer something along the lines of what Vecsey suggested: Jefferson, Stuckey, and a 2017 first round pick, Sean Marks and company will have to decide if that return is valuable enough to ship Lopez out of town. The first round pick would certainly be the crown jewel of the trade, but it’s unclear how Jefferson, 32, and Stuckey, 30, would fit into Brooklyn’s impending youth movement, should this particular trade actually come to fruition.

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The biggest decision the Brooklyn Nets are facing during trade season is whether or not Marks will trade Lopez. ESPN’s Marc Stein reported Tuesday afternoon that Brooklyn is willing to accept a first round pick and a second round pick in exchange for Lopez, which means Brooklyn has lowered its asking price, which was previously two first round picks.