NBN Roundtable: Post-Trade Deadline Reactions
By Sandy Mui
Should Sean Marks have done more at the trade deadline? If so, how?
Sandy Mui (@sandymui1134): While it seemed like there were a lot of trade rumors surrounding the Nets prior to the trade deadline, not many players were actually known to be on the table. There were of course Brook Lopez and Bojan Bogdanovic, while Brooklyn was also reportedly “willing to listen to offers” for Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in mid-January. So while the team only had nine wins at the All-Star Break, you’d expect most of the Nets’ roster to be expendable, but at the same time, you wouldn’t expect much movement.
With that said, I’m satisfied with what Sean Marks was able to accomplish. The biggest thing was getting a first-round draft pick from the Wizards in the Bogdanovic/McCullough deal, which now adds an extra first-round pick for the Nets in a solid 2017 draft class. Marks also didn’t bite the bullet on a Lopez trade, despite the Nets reportedly lowering the asking price for the big man. And, God knows what Brooklyn will end up doing with K.J. McDaniels and Andrew Nicholson, but they’re two players who could add some use to the team.
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Charles Daye (@NotTheChuckD): Sean Marks acquired K.J. McDaniels for nothing. He traded cash (the value of which is less than the league minimum) for a good 3-&-D prospect. Not to mention he traded away an expiring contract and a D-League player for a first-round pick, while keeping the young core (Whitehead, LeVert and RHJ) intact, on top of not trading away the best player on the team (Lopez).
The only thing he possibly could’ve done more with, is maybe acquire more players (like McDaniels) for cash, or trade for the rights of a young D-League player with a high ceiling that’s under contract with another team. Other than that, I’m not sure what he could have done, nor what assets he could have traded to acquire better pieces. Scola has been waived, but I doubt any team would have gave up a second-rounder for him. The same goes for Randy Foye.
Christian Milcos (@ChristianMilcos): I do not believe there is much else Sean Marks could’ve done at the deadline, given then Nets’ depleted assets. Marks did what was essential in getting another first-round pick and adding salary. If a good offer had been presented for Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, then he should’ve been expendable, given his struggle to find a true role in Atkinson’s offense, but there is no indication that such a deal was offered.
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Malcolm Ireland (@MackyIreland): There was not much more Marks could have done at the trade deadline. The only move Marks should have pushed was a trade for Sean Kilpatrick. His value is high, and his contract is dirt cheap. Those are two things a lot of teams like. If the Nets could have snagged a pick for him, it may have been worthwhile.
With such a quiet trade deadline, Marks did not have an opportunity to help in facilitating a trade. If there was more activity, Marks could have used the extra cap room to take back contracts in a salary dump if it meant the Nets would receive a pick as sentiment. In the end, Marks made moves that weren’t detrimental to the future of the team. He should be praised for this because Nets fans do not want to push back the rebuild clock anymore.